PS-R06-4: POSTERIOR REVERSIBLE ENCEPHALOPATHY SYNDROME TRIGGERED BY FLUID RETENTION AND HYPERTENSION AFTER STEROID INITIATION IN PATIENTS WITH ANCA-ASSOCIATED VASCULITIS

Abstract

Objectives: Central nervous system (CNS) involvement in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) -associated vasculitis is common, with hypertrophic pachymeninges, cerebrovascular events, hypophysitis, or posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) being the most common CNS presentations. Design and Methods: Case report. Results: A 73-year-old Japanese woman presented with a fever and cough. The patient had no relevant medical history. Her c-reactive protein (CRP) level increased to 22.38 mg/dl, and meropenem was initiated; however, her fever and CRP levels did not improve. Furthermore, creatinine level increased from 0.83 to 3.44 mg/dl during hospitalization. She was transferred to our hospital for evaluation of renal function deterioration. Her consciousness level was alert, and her blood pressure was 140/80 mm Hg. A renal biopsy was performed, and histological examination of the kidneys revealed diffuse pauci-immune necrotizing and crescentic glomerulonephritis. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) -ANCA was 2.9 IU/mL and proteinase 3 (PR3) -ANCA was negative. On the basis of these findings, the patient was diagnosed with ANCA-associated vasculitis. On the fourth hospital day, she was treated with 500 mg intravenous methylprednisolone, once daily, for 3 days, followed by oral prednisolone (40 mg; 0.8 mg/kg). Although her fever and CRP levels improved after the initiation of immunosuppressive therapy, she required renal replacement therapy on the eighth hospital day. Rituximab (500 mg) was administered on the ninth hospital day. Her blood pressure subsequently increased, with the systolic blood pressure being 190 mmHg, and consciousness suddenly deteriorated on the 11th hospital day. Head fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) MRI showed multiple lesions with high signal intensity, and she was diagnosed with PRES. After intravenous administration of nicardipine and fluid removal by hemodialysis, her blood pressure decreased and her consciousness dramatically improved. Conclusion: In addition to the vascular endothelial damage associated with vasculitis itself, steroid therapy, renal failure, elevated blood pressure, and administration of rituximab are related to an increased susceptibility of PRES. In particular, steroid administration increases blood pressure due to fluid retention and can be a risk factor for the development of PRES, suggesting the need for adequate fluid management during steroid administration.