Autonomic disorder in systemic lupus erythematosus: autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy

The pathomechanisms of autonomic disorders in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remain unclear. We herein report a patient with SLE who developed autonomic disorders presumably caused by autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy (AAG). A 42-year-old woman with SLE under treatment with corticosteroids and...

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Main Authors: Naoto Azuma, Mai Nakano, Masao Tamura, Chie Ogita, Kazuhiro Kitajima, Tetsuya Furukawa, Kiyoshi Matsui
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-10-01
Series:Immunological Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/25785826.2024.2422180
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author Naoto Azuma
Mai Nakano
Masao Tamura
Chie Ogita
Kazuhiro Kitajima
Tetsuya Furukawa
Kiyoshi Matsui
author_facet Naoto Azuma
Mai Nakano
Masao Tamura
Chie Ogita
Kazuhiro Kitajima
Tetsuya Furukawa
Kiyoshi Matsui
author_sort Naoto Azuma
collection DOAJ
description The pathomechanisms of autonomic disorders in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remain unclear. We herein report a patient with SLE who developed autonomic disorders presumably caused by autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy (AAG). A 42-year-old woman with SLE under treatment with corticosteroids and hydroxychloroquine was admitted for recurrence of SLE with thrombocytopenia and nephritis. On admission, she presented with weight loss, orthostatic dizziness, abdominal distension, and difficulty urinating. Marked intestinal dilatation, kidney swelling, bilateral hydronephrosis, and ureteral dilatation were noted on ultrasonography and computed tomography. No evidence of obstruction was observed in the intestines, urinary tracts, or bladder. Transverse myelitis was also ruled out by magnetic resonance imaging. After starting the treatment for the recurrent SLE (intravenous immunoglobulin and methylprednisolone pulse therapy, followed by high-dose oral corticosteroid, mycophenolate mofetil, and tacrolimus), orthostatic dizziness, abdominal distension, and difficulty urinating subsided along with increases in platelet count and decreases in urinary protein. The intestinal dilatation, hydronephrosis, and ureteral dilatation improved. We inferred that her SLE was complicated by AAG based on a positive anti-ganglionic acetylcholine receptor antibody. This case suggested that AAG should be considered as a type of autonomic disorder in SLE.
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spelling doaj-art-d8ab24ef21ea4268a7242e4ebbcb4aac2025-08-20T01:53:35ZengTaylor & Francis GroupImmunological Medicine2578-58262024-10-0147428528810.1080/25785826.2024.2422180Autonomic disorder in systemic lupus erythematosus: autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathyNaoto Azuma0Mai Nakano1Masao Tamura2Chie Ogita3Kazuhiro Kitajima4Tetsuya Furukawa5Kiyoshi Matsui6Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Clinical Immunology, Hyogo Medical University School of Medicine, Nishinomiya, JapanDepartment of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Clinical Immunology, Hyogo Medical University School of Medicine, Nishinomiya, JapanDepartment of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Clinical Immunology, Hyogo Medical University School of Medicine, Nishinomiya, JapanDepartment of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Clinical Immunology, Hyogo Medical University School of Medicine, Nishinomiya, JapanDepartment of Radiology, Hyogo Medical University School of Medicine, Nishinomiya, JapanDepartment of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Clinical Immunology, Hyogo Medical University School of Medicine, Nishinomiya, JapanDepartment of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Clinical Immunology, Hyogo Medical University School of Medicine, Nishinomiya, JapanThe pathomechanisms of autonomic disorders in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remain unclear. We herein report a patient with SLE who developed autonomic disorders presumably caused by autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy (AAG). A 42-year-old woman with SLE under treatment with corticosteroids and hydroxychloroquine was admitted for recurrence of SLE with thrombocytopenia and nephritis. On admission, she presented with weight loss, orthostatic dizziness, abdominal distension, and difficulty urinating. Marked intestinal dilatation, kidney swelling, bilateral hydronephrosis, and ureteral dilatation were noted on ultrasonography and computed tomography. No evidence of obstruction was observed in the intestines, urinary tracts, or bladder. Transverse myelitis was also ruled out by magnetic resonance imaging. After starting the treatment for the recurrent SLE (intravenous immunoglobulin and methylprednisolone pulse therapy, followed by high-dose oral corticosteroid, mycophenolate mofetil, and tacrolimus), orthostatic dizziness, abdominal distension, and difficulty urinating subsided along with increases in platelet count and decreases in urinary protein. The intestinal dilatation, hydronephrosis, and ureteral dilatation improved. We inferred that her SLE was complicated by AAG based on a positive anti-ganglionic acetylcholine receptor antibody. This case suggested that AAG should be considered as a type of autonomic disorder in SLE.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/25785826.2024.2422180Anti-ganglionic acetylcholine receptor antibodyautoimmune autonomic ganglionopathyautonomic disordersystemic lupus erythematosus
spellingShingle Naoto Azuma
Mai Nakano
Masao Tamura
Chie Ogita
Kazuhiro Kitajima
Tetsuya Furukawa
Kiyoshi Matsui
Autonomic disorder in systemic lupus erythematosus: autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy
Immunological Medicine
Anti-ganglionic acetylcholine receptor antibody
autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy
autonomic disorder
systemic lupus erythematosus
title Autonomic disorder in systemic lupus erythematosus: autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy
title_full Autonomic disorder in systemic lupus erythematosus: autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy
title_fullStr Autonomic disorder in systemic lupus erythematosus: autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy
title_full_unstemmed Autonomic disorder in systemic lupus erythematosus: autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy
title_short Autonomic disorder in systemic lupus erythematosus: autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy
title_sort autonomic disorder in systemic lupus erythematosus autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy
topic Anti-ganglionic acetylcholine receptor antibody
autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy
autonomic disorder
systemic lupus erythematosus
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/25785826.2024.2422180
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AT masaotamura autonomicdisorderinsystemiclupuserythematosusautoimmuneautonomicganglionopathy
AT chieogita autonomicdisorderinsystemiclupuserythematosusautoimmuneautonomicganglionopathy
AT kazuhirokitajima autonomicdisorderinsystemiclupuserythematosusautoimmuneautonomicganglionopathy
AT tetsuyafurukawa autonomicdisorderinsystemiclupuserythematosusautoimmuneautonomicganglionopathy
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