Cerebral systemic lupus erythematosus with apnea in a patient with cardiolipin antibodies and oligoclonal bands.

We describe a patient with cerebral systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who had 2 episodes of prolonged apnea in addition to other manifestations of brainstem dysfunction. Oligoclonal bands, uncommonly found in SLE, were detected in the cerebrospinal fluid. Also present in our patient were anticardiolipin antibodies which have often been reported to be associated with neurological events in patients with SLE. With mechanical ventilation and high dose corticosteroid therapy, she recovered with only minimal neurological deficit. Our case stresses the potential reversibility of life threatening cerebral SLE.