Cerebral embolism in Libman-Sacks endocarditis.
Left homonymous hemianopia, hemiparesis, left-body clonic seizures, and progressive deterioration of consciousness complicated the clinical course of a 57-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Autopsy documented the presence of multiple brain infarcts and cerebral arterial emboli that originated from the verrucae of Libman-Sacks endocarditis. Clinicians and pathologists should consider this unusual vascular mechanism of cerebral injury in patients with SLE who develop strokes.
D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000473:pathology; D004696:Endocarditis / Q000473:pathology*; D004699:Endocardium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002542:Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000473:pathology; D009336:Necrosis