Publication Details
Lubomski, M.,
Sy, J.,
Buckland, M.,
Lee, A. S.,
Richards, B.,
Thompson, E.,
Fulham, M.,
Breen, N.,
Morris, K.,
&
Halmagyi, G. M.
(2018).
Rheumatoid leptomeningitis presenting with an acute neuropsychiatric disorder.
BMJ Practical Neurology, Early View, Online First.
Abstract
Leptomeningitis is a rare central nervous system manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis, generally in patients with established chronic rheumatoid disease. We report a 41-year-old man without previous rheumatoid arthritis or psychiatric disorder who presented with an acute neuropsychiatric disturbance and polyarthralgia. His MR scan of brain showed asymmetric bifrontal leptomeningitis, confirmed on (18F)-fluoro-D-glucose-positron emission tomography. Other investigations showed highly positive serum and cerebrospinal fluid anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide. A leptomeningeal biopsy showed necrotising leptomeningeal inflammation with ill-defined granulomas and lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate without organisms. Prolonged high-dose corticosteroids and then rituximab resulted in recovery. Chronic leptomeningitis can present with an acute neuropsychiatric disorder. We highlight that early rheumatoid disease can, rarely, cause a chronic leptomeningitis, reversible with immunotherapy.
Keywords
neurological rarities, leptomeningtis, rheumatoid arthritis, psychiatric disorder, acute neuropsychiatric disturbance, polyarthralgia, immunotherapy
