Encephalopathy complicating Henoch-Schönlein purpura: reversible MRI changes.
A 10-year-old boy with Henoch-Schönlein purpura complicated by encephalopathy, transient cortical blindness, and a secondary generalized seizure is reported. Reversible changes in the posterior white and gray matter were seen on magnetic resonance imaging. Our patient illustrates uncommon neurologic manifestations of Henoch-Schönlein purpura. The nature and location of the lesions and the normalization of the patient's magnetic resonance imaging is consistent with a posterior predominant parieto-occipital encephalopathy and suggests that cerebral edema from blood-brain barrier breakdown may play a central role in the pathophysiology of the central nervous system symptomatology in some patients.
Woolfenden
A R
AR
Department of Pediatrics, British Columbia's Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Hukin
J
J
Poskitt
K J
KJ
Connolly
M B
MB
D001062:Appendectomy; D019575:Blindness, Cortical / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000502:physiology; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002549:Diffuse Cerebral Sclerosis of Schilder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004828:Epilepsies, Partial / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011695:IgA Vasculitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis