Pseudotumor Cerebri in a Boy With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Sir.—Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an episodic, multisystem disease of unknown origin characterized by widespread chronic inflammatory involvement of the connective tissue. Often there is prominent vasculitis of the small blood vessels.1,2 In the first two decades of life central nervous system involvement in SLE has been reported to range from 9% to 45%.2 Pseudotumor cerebri is a form of central nervous system involvement that is quite rare. We present herein the first report, to our knowledge, of a boy with pseudotumor cerebri as an initial manifestation of SLE.Patient Report.—A 9-year-old boy was referred from a general hospital in December 1988 with the diagnosis of nephritis and persistent headache. He had a history of edema and headache 1 month before admission. Laboratory findings at the referring hospital were compatible with acute glomerulonephritis; serum urea nitrogen and creatinine levels were 11.0 mmol/L of urea and 170