Association of severe and therapy-refractory systemic lupus erythematosus and neuromyelitis optica: a management challenge

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystemic autoimmune disorder. Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is an infrequent neuroinflammatory disorder, whose association with SLE remains rare. The authors report the case of an 18-year-old woman, with SLE refractory to multiple immunosuppressive therapies and novel biological agents. Under immunosuppressive therapy, the patient presented with transverse myelitis with contiguous spinal cord lesions and urinary incontinence, having been diagnosed with seropositive NMO, which was also proven to be refractory to common treatments. Partial recovery of the neurological deficits occurred with plasmapheresis, although not averting the brain involvement by NMO that ensued. The patient was listed nationally for allogeneic bone marrow transplant, but, unfortunately, no match was found and the patient died of severe cerebral NMO flare with coma due to brain swelling and consequent respiratory failure. Although the association of SLE and NMO is very rare, early diagnosis is crucial to facilitate initiation of immunosuppressive therapy.

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