Open AccessPosterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome and Azathioprine
Author(s) -
Sara Pinto Teixeira Vilas-Boas,
Ana Corte-Real
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
european journal of case reports in internal medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.125
H-Index - 1
ISSN - 2284-2594
DOI - 10.12890/2018_001032
Subject(s) - posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome , medicine , azathioprine , hypertensive emergency , eclampsia , magnetic resonance imaging , immunosuppression , status epilepticus , pathology , disease , radiology , pregnancy , epilepsy , genetics , psychiatry , biology , blood pressure
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare syndrome that presents with neurological manifestations, often associated with arterial hypertension. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows bilateral white matter oedema in the posterior vascular territories. Immunosuppression, (pre) eclampsia and autoimmune diseases can be implicated. A 27-year-old woman, with mixed connective tissue disease under azathioprine, was admitted in the emergency room in status epilepticus and with severe hypertension. The MRI showed bilateral oedema in a pattern compatible with PRES. There was clinical improvement after azathioprine suspension. PRES is typically reversible with prompt recognition of the syndrome and its trigger. The association with azathioprine is rare.