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Leukoencephalopathy and chronic pancreatitis as concomitant manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus related to anticardiolipin antibodies

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Anstract

Symptoms of leukoencephalopathy led to hospital admission of a 59-year-old woman. In addition, a tumor of unknown nature in the pancreas was identified by abdominal ultrasound and CT scan. Following explorative laparotomy and pancreas tail resection, histopathologic analysis revealed a pancreatic pseudotumor with chronic fibrotic pancreatitis. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was diagnosed due to the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in serum, antiphospholipid antibodies, and involvement of the central nervous system. Leukoencephalopathy related to anticardiolipin antibodies in serum is a known but rare manifestation of SLE. The concomitant occurrence of chronic pancreatitis can be caused by the development of SLE-induced vasculitis in the pancreas. Subsequent complications of pancreatitis are responsible for the critical, life-threatening state of these patients and may be prevented by early identification of anticardiolipin antibodies and therapy for SLE.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, University of Regensburg, Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany

    J. Swol-Ben

  2. Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany

    U. Müller-Ladner

  3. Institute of Pathology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany

    F. Hofstädter

  4. Department of Radiology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany

    J. Link

  5. Department of Neurology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany

    C. Hechenrieder

  6. Department of Surgery, Grosshadern Clinic, Ludwig-Maximilian University, Munich, Germany

    C. J. Bruns & K.-W. Jauch

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  1. J. Swol-Ben
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  2. C. J. Bruns
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  3. U. Müller-Ladner
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  4. F. Hofstädter
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  5. J. Link
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  7. K.-W. Jauch
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Correspondence to J. Swol-Ben.

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Swol-Ben, J., Bruns, C.J., Müller-Ladner, U. et al. Leukoencephalopathy and chronic pancreatitis as concomitant manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus related to anticardiolipin antibodies. Rheumatol Int 24, 177–181 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-003-0366-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-003-0366-4

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