RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF CEREBRAL ATROPHY IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

A 21-year-old female is described who developed severe cerebrallupus 9 months after the onset of her disease. A dramatic changein her CT brain scan from normal to gross cerebral atrophy wasobserved in the month following onset of her cerebral disease. This patient developed hepatitis during the course of her hospitalization.This is an unusual manifestation of systemic lupus. The patient'sserum also contained anti-Sm antibodies. This is a relativelyinfrequent finding in the serum of lupus patients outside theUnited States. KEY WORDS: Systemic lupus erythematosus, Cerebral disease, Sm antibodies