title: Benzodiazepines in catatonia associated with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Neuropsychiatric disturbances are found in 50-70% of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. However, there are rare cases of catatonia being described in SLE. Some studies have shown the effectiveness of high-dose steroid, plasma exchange and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in lupus catatonia. Herein are described two SLE patients with catatonia who had good response to i.v. diazepam (i.e. relief of catatonia symptoms). Patient 1, with mild cortical atrophy, had great improvement in catatonia symptoms on i.v. diazepam 150 mg during a period of 5 days. Patient 2, without cortical atrophy, had quick response to i.v. diazepam 10-20 mg. Both patients had no recurrence during 6-month follow up. In conclusion, benzodiazepines may play an important role in the treatment of catatonia associated with SLE if patients refuse ECT treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hung-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Tiao-Lai
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002389:Catatonia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008140:Lorazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018757:GABA Modulators; D011239:Prednisolone; D008140:Lorazepam; D003975:Diazepam