SciELO - Scientific Electronic Library Online

 
vol.61 issue3Use of nutritional supplements in the Costa Rican urban populationCardiac amyloidosis in a patient with multiple myeloma author indexsubject indexarticles search
Home Pagealphabetic serial listing  

Services on Demand

Journal

Article

Indicators

Related links

  • Have no similar articlesSimilars in SciELO

Share


Acta Médica Costarricense

On-line version ISSN 0001-6002Print version ISSN 0001-6012

Abstract

SAUMA-WEBB, Alejandro  and  SALAS-SEGURA, Donato A.. Plasmapheresis in neuropsychiatric involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus. Acta méd. costarric [online]. 2019, vol.61, n.3, pp.127-130. ISSN 0001-6002.

One of the most feared clinical presentations of systemic lupus erythematosus is neuropsychiatric involvement, specially associated psychosis. Diagnostic definitions are not well stablished to date however clinical suspicion and case registry has been increasing over time. There is scarce evidence regarding correct therapeutic approach to psychiatric presentations of systemic lupus erythematosus, however, it is well known that it is consequence of noxious autoimmune activity of the brain without structural compromise. Corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide and rituximab are part of the pharmacologic tools available. We present a case a 13 year old adolescent with new onset systemic lupus erythematosus in whom one of the principal initial concerns was how to address intense neuropsychiatric manifestations and specially refractory psychosis. First, high doses of steroid boluses were offered with no benefit in psychiatric symptoms, then cyclophosphamide was administered, with no success. Finally, therapeutic plasma exchange was offered to the patient with rapid clinical improvement. A total of 4 sessions of plasmapheresis with human albumin were done.

Keywords : systemic erythematosus lupus; plasmapheresis; neuropsychiatric lupus.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )