Surgery and antibiotics for the treatment of lupus nephritis with cerebral abscesses: A case report

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients are extremely susceptible to opportunistic infections due to glucocorticoid and immunosuppressive treatments, which often occur in the respiratory system, the urinary system and the skin. However, multiple cerebral infections are rarely reported and their treatment is not standardized, especially when induced by a rare pathogen. CASE SUMMARY: A 46-year-old woman was treated with glucocorticoid and immunosuppressant for SLE involving the hematologic system and kidneys (class IV-G lupus nephritis) for more than one year. She was admitted to hospital due to headache and fever, and was diagnosed with multiple cerebral abscesses. Brain enhanced magnetic resonance imaging showed multiple nodular abnormal signals in both frontal lobes, left parietal and temporal lobes, left masseteric space (left temporalis and masseter region). The initial surgical plan was only to remove the large abscesses in the left parietal lobe and right frontal lobe. After surgery, based on the drug susceptibility test results (a rare pathogen Nocardia asteroides was found) and taking into consideration the patient’s renal dysfunction, a multi-antibiotic regimen was selected for the treatment. The immunosuppressant mycophenolate mofetil was discontinued on admission and the dose of prednisone was reduced from 20 mg/d to 10 mg/d. Re-examination at 3 mo post-surgery showed that the intracranial lesions were reduced, the edema around the lesions was absorbed and dissipated, and her neurological symptoms had disappeared. The patient had no headaches or other neurological symptoms and lupus nephritis was stable during the 2-year follow-up period. CONCLUSION: In this report, we provide reasonable indications for immunosuppression, anti-infective therapy and individualized surgery for an SLE patient complicated with multiple cerebral abscesses caused by a rare pathogen, which may help improve the diagnosis and treatment of similar cases.