Publication:

Seizures as an unusual presentation of neonatal lupus erythematosus: a case report

Neonatal lupus erythematosus is an uncommon passive autoimmune disease manifesting as cutaneous lupus lesions and/or congenital heart blocks with rare CNS involvement. A 2months old female infant admitted for respiratory illness was found to have neonatal lupus skin lesions, developed seizures during hospital stay without any metabolic cause or CNS infection. Mother had significantly raised anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB antibodies. As per classical description, the cutaneous lesions started to fade but the CNS involvement needs follow up. NLE should be suspected on the basis of cutaneous lesions even in absence of heart block and seizures may also rarely manifest.