A case of systemic Lupus erythematosus complicated with multiple subcortical hemorrhage

We described a case of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) complicated with multiple intracerebral hemorrhage. A 52-year-old female with no history of hypertension had been treated with steroid hormone therapy for more than 15 years. Four days before admission, she experienced acute onset of headache and nausea. On the day of admission, the patient suffered from headache and nausea again followed by a deteriorated level of consciousness. The computed tomographic scan revealed two subcortical hematomas in the right frontal and left temporo-occipital area with atypical findings compared to those of the usual intracerebral hemorrhage. Cerebral angiography demonstrated that cortical arteries around the hematomas were markedly stretched and displaced. Multiple segmental stenosis and irregular lumen of the internal carotid artery and bilateral cortical arteries were possibly representative of vasculopathy. Transit time of blood flow was severely delayed with no apparent obstruction of the cerebral arteries, veins and dural sinuses. These findings suggested the existence of severely increased intracranial pressure. Emergent surgical evacuation of the hematomas was successfully performed with a favorable outcome for the patient. Intraoperatively, the brain was congested even after the evacuation of the hematomas. Surgical manipulation was able easily to cause bleeding from the cavity of the hematomas, which was hard to control. It is supposed that vasculopathy including fibrinoid degeneration and vasculitis may have affected the susceptibility of small arteries and veins to rupture in the present case. Subsequent increase of intracranial pressure might cause another hematomas by adding of hemodynamic stress to small vessels apart from those at the site of the first hemorrhage.