Systemic lupus erythematosus: A possible cause of non-alcoholic Wernicke’s encephalopathy
We report a young woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and an acute cerebellar ataxia. A history of poor appetite and vomiting preceded the inco-ordination. Ataxia in SLE has been well described, but is nevertheless uncommon. The clinical triad of mild confusion, ataxia and ophthalmoplegia...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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South African Medical Association
2017-04-01
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| Series: | South African Medical Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/view/11854/8013 |
| _version_ | 1797331437243858944 |
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| author | M T L Nyo D Magazi M M T M Ally |
| author_facet | M T L Nyo D Magazi M M T M Ally |
| author_sort | M T L Nyo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We report a young woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and an acute cerebellar ataxia. A history of poor appetite and vomiting preceded the inco-ordination. Ataxia in SLE has been well described, but is nevertheless uncommon. The clinical triad of mild confusion, ataxia and ophthalmoplegia also raised the possibility of Wernicke’s encephalopathy (WE). The diagnosis of WE was further supported by the magnetic resonance imaging features. Owing to overlapping causal factors, this case illustrates the complexity of diagnosing and managing neuropsychiatric syndromes in a patient with SLE. The limited published literature on SLE-related cerebellar syndromes adds to the challenge. Gastrointestinal manifestations of SLE are described as being common in SLE, with nausea and vomiting occurring in >50% of cases in some series. Poor eating habits and vomiting are well-described causes of non-alcoholic WE. This is the first description of gastrointestinal SLE as a possible cause of WE. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T07:34:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bef0f301749b42c7baf9a84eebfc5f8c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0256-9574 2078-5135 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T07:34:32Z |
| publishDate | 2017-04-01 |
| publisher | South African Medical Association |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Medical Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-bef0f301749b42c7baf9a84eebfc5f8c2024-02-02T19:28:51ZengSouth African Medical AssociationSouth African Medical Journal0256-95742078-51352017-04-01107429930110.7196/SAMJ.2017.v107i4.12053Systemic lupus erythematosus: A possible cause of non-alcoholic Wernicke’s encephalopathyM T L Nyo0D Magazi1M M T M Ally2Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South AfricaDepartment of Neurology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South AfricaDivision of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South AfricaWe report a young woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and an acute cerebellar ataxia. A history of poor appetite and vomiting preceded the inco-ordination. Ataxia in SLE has been well described, but is nevertheless uncommon. The clinical triad of mild confusion, ataxia and ophthalmoplegia also raised the possibility of Wernicke’s encephalopathy (WE). The diagnosis of WE was further supported by the magnetic resonance imaging features. Owing to overlapping causal factors, this case illustrates the complexity of diagnosing and managing neuropsychiatric syndromes in a patient with SLE. The limited published literature on SLE-related cerebellar syndromes adds to the challenge. Gastrointestinal manifestations of SLE are described as being common in SLE, with nausea and vomiting occurring in >50% of cases in some series. Poor eating habits and vomiting are well-described causes of non-alcoholic WE. This is the first description of gastrointestinal SLE as a possible cause of WE.http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/view/11854/8013Systemic lupus erythematosusWernicke's encephalopathyAcute cerebellar ataxiaNeuropsychiatric SLE |
| spellingShingle | M T L Nyo D Magazi M M T M Ally Systemic lupus erythematosus: A possible cause of non-alcoholic Wernicke’s encephalopathy South African Medical Journal Systemic lupus erythematosus Wernicke's encephalopathy Acute cerebellar ataxia Neuropsychiatric SLE |
| title | Systemic lupus erythematosus: A possible cause of non-alcoholic Wernicke’s encephalopathy |
| title_full | Systemic lupus erythematosus: A possible cause of non-alcoholic Wernicke’s encephalopathy |
| title_fullStr | Systemic lupus erythematosus: A possible cause of non-alcoholic Wernicke’s encephalopathy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Systemic lupus erythematosus: A possible cause of non-alcoholic Wernicke’s encephalopathy |
| title_short | Systemic lupus erythematosus: A possible cause of non-alcoholic Wernicke’s encephalopathy |
| title_sort | systemic lupus erythematosus a possible cause of non alcoholic wernicke s encephalopathy |
| topic | Systemic lupus erythematosus Wernicke's encephalopathy Acute cerebellar ataxia Neuropsychiatric SLE |
| url | http://www.samj.org.za/index.php/samj/article/view/11854/8013 |
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