Tetraplegia as a presenting feature of systemic lupus erythematosus complicated by pulmonary hypertension

A 28-year-old woman presenting with subacute onset of a tetraplegia is described who was shown to have active systemic lupus erythematosus in association with high circulating anticardiolipin binding and lupus anticoagulant activity. The patient later developed severe symptomatic systemic and pulmonary hypertension and required emergency resuscitation. This case provides further support for an association between antiphospholipid antibodies and the clinical features of central nervous system (CNS) involvement and pulmonary hypertension in SLE.