A NEUROPATHOLOGICAL STUDY OF A CASE OF LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS WITH CHOREA

Neuropathological examination in a 48-year-women of SLE with chorea wa s performed. Histological examination of the putamen showed a widespre ad neuronal loss associated with reactive astrocyte proliferation and neuropil rarefaction at both sides. Disappearance of large neurons was more prominent than that of small ones. Although a few old and fresh microinfarcts were scattered in the same area, there was no significan t pathological abnormality in small vessels. The caudate nuclei also s howed a few irregular microinfarcts and spotty loss of neurons associa ted with reactive astrocytosis. These neuropathological changes might be related to the appearance of choreatic movement in patients with SL E.