Case Report

Atypical imaging findings in a renal transplant patient with reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome: a case report

Cristina Soler Riera^1*, Leila Haddad¹, Darío Scocco², Gabriela Fischer³, Christian L Saubidet¹ and Paulino A Álvarez¹

• * Corresponding author: Cristina Soler Riera crisoler@telecentro.com.ar

Author Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas (CEMIC), Av Las Heras 2900 (C1425ASS), Buenos Aires, Argentina

² Department of Internal Medicine, Neurology Section, Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas (CEMIC), Av Las Heras 2900 (C1425ASS), Buenos Aires, Argentina

³ Department of Internal Medicine, Nephrology Section, Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas (CEMIC), Av Las Heras 2900 (C1425ASS), Buenos Aires, Argentina

For all author emails, please log on.

Cases Journal 2009, 2:145 doi:10.1186/1757-1626-2-145

Published: 30 September 2009

Abstract

Background

Atypical clinical and imaging findings in Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome are recognized with increasing frequency.

Case report

We report a case of an adult in his 5^th decade immunosupressed with methilprednisolone, tacrolimus and micophenolate who two months after renal transplantation, multiple infections and an episode of humoral rejection became hypertensive with severe headaches, visual field abnormalities, seizures, left hemiparesis and hemineglect.

Computed Tomography scan of the brain showed a hypo dense lesion in the left occipital lobe. Ischemic stroke was diagnosed and aspirin and permissive hypertension were indicated. Twelve hours later he developed left sided motor seizures and cortical blindness. Magnetic Resonance Image showed hyper intensity in T2 and FLAIR in both occipital lobes and a small area of cortical restricted diffusion in Diffuson Weighted Images in the left occipital lobe. With a diagnosis of Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome his blood pressure was controlled with intravenous labetalol, and two days later the neurologic findings returned to baseline and most Computed tomography findings resolved.

Conclusion

This case underscores that in the appropriate setting Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome should be suspected and the clinician should not be misled by atypical clinical or imaging findings. In contrast to other pathologies that resemble Reversible Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome, with the right and timely treatment, signs, symptoms and images can be completely reversible.