Acute Stroke as the first manifestation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus:A case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune, multisystem disease that is characterized by a bewildering array of antibodies. Central nervous system manifestations of SLE are highly diverse and often have major prognostic consequences,
accounting for 15% of cases. It is a known cause of ‘stroke in the young’ especially in the female population. We present the case of a 17-year old female, who presented with acute ischemic stroke as the first presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus. The report is presented to heighten the index of suspicion of SLE, in young patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke, in our environment.

Key words: Systemic lupus erythematosus, Acute ischemic stroke, Index, Suspicion