Systemic lupus erythematosus presenting as catatonic schizophrenia

Catatonia in systemic lupus erythematosus: case based review

Catatonia is a rare psychomotor syndrome characterized by stupor, posturing and echophenomena. It can be associated with schizophrenia, infections, drugs and autoimmune causes like anti N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Here we report two cases of systemic lupus erythematosus with catatonia, who improved with immunosuppressive treatment and review the cases described in the literature. The first case presented with fever, pancytopenia, toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN)-like rash and later developed catatonia and macrophage activation syndrome (MAS). The second case presented with acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (ACLE), fever, alopecia, polyarthralgias, nephritis, cytopenias along with catatonia. Successful management of this syndrome requires prompt recognition and treatment with immunosuppression as well as benzodiazepines with or without electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

Catatonia Associated With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): A Report of Two Cases and a Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is known to cause neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSLE). While not formally recognized as a syndrome associated with NPSLE, catatonia has frequently been reported.

OBJECTIVE

It is important for clinicians to recognize and treat catatonia as a potential manifestation of NPSLE. We present 2 cases of SLE with catatonia and review the cases reported in the literature.

METHODS

We performed a PubMed search for reported cases of catatonia in SLE. Case reports that met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5th ed. diagnostic criteria for catatonia were summarized to assess common diagnostic tests and treatments.

RESULTS

Twenty-six articles describing a total of 35 patients (all female), in addition to our 2 patients, were included in the report. All but one of the patients received immunosuppressive therapy for treatment of SLE. To treat catatonia symptoms, 81% of the patients received benzodiazepines, and 38% received electroconvulsive therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Catatonia can be a manifestation of NPSLE, particularly in the presence of serologies and symptoms indicative of an active lupus flare. Management of catatonia involves management of the underlying condition, in this case immunomodulatory treatments for NPSLE; avoidance of treatments, such as antipsychotics, which can worsen catatonia; and symptomatic treatments for catatonia, for which benzodiazepines are a first-line treatment, and electroconvulsive therapy when catatonia is refractory to benzodiazepines.