Periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges (PLEDs) in cerebral lupus correlated with white-matter lesions in brain MRI and reduced cerebral blood flow in SPECT

Lupus. 2013 Apr;22(5):510-4. doi: 10.1177/0961203312474705. Epub 2013 Jan 28.

Abstract

This is a case report on an uncommon correlation between periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges (PLEDs) and white-matter lesions in cerebral lupus, and with a reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF) in single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). A 47-year-old woman with a long-term history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presented with a seizure followed by frontal lobe dysfunction clinically. An electroencephalogram (EEG) showed bilateral independent PLEDs in the frontal region. A magnetic resonance image of the brain showed white-matter changes in the frontal periventricular region. Cerebral angiogram did not reveal any evidence of vasculitis. A cerebral SPECT with tracer injected during the EEG showing PLEDs showed a reduction in CBF in the frontal regions. Clinical recovery was observed with intravenous immunoglobulin. This case shows that PLEDs can be seen with white-matter changes in SLE.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Brain / blood supply*
  • Brain / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Female
  • Functional Laterality
  • Humans
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / complications*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / diagnostic imaging
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Seizures / diagnostic imaging
  • Seizures / etiology*
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon