Clinical and neuroimaging features of reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome / 中国神经精神疾病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the clinical and neuroimaging characteristics of patients with reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS). Methods The etiology, clinical manifestations, neuroimaging features, treatment, and prognosis were retrospectively analyzed in 8 patients (5 males and 3 females) with RPLS. Results The causes of RPLS included systemic lupus erythematosus (2 cases) eclampsia (one case), primary hypertension (one case), fungal encephalitis (one case), multiple myeloma (one case), renal transplantation (one case), immunosuppressant (three cases), chemotherapy (one case) and antifungal agent (one case). The clinical manifestations of these patients included headaches, seizures, visual abnormalities, and consciousness or mental disorders. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head mainly showed symmetrical abnormalities in the posterior regions of the brain, as evidenced by low or equal signal on T_1WI, and high signal on T_2WI and FLAIR images. After treatment with antihypertensive agents, dehydration therapy, and heteropathy for 2～3 weeks, the neurological deficits of the patients were almost resolved and the initial lesions disappeared completely or almost completely in all patients at the follow-up MRI. Conclusions RPLS is a clinical entity characterized by reversible white matter damage in posterior brain. Prompt diagnosis and treatment may result in reversible resolution of its clinical symptoms and neuroradiological lesions.