Acute ischemic stroke in systemic lupus erythematosus

ABSTRACT

@#Multiple mechanisms can cause ischemic stroke in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. When a known case of SLE present with an acute ischemic stroke, the decision for offering thrombolytic therapy can be challenging since some of the mechanisms which may have caused the stroke can be a contraindication or a relative contraindication for thrombolytic therapy. Here we present a case where successful intravenous thrombolytic therapy was offered in an SLE patient where a careful history, clinical examination and imaging features were helpful in taking a judicious decision. This is only the third case in the English literature of a known SLE patient being offered thrombolytic therapy.