Torticollis and blepharospasm in systemic lupus erythematosus.

A case of torticollis and blepharospasm as the major manifestation of neurological involvement in systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE) is presented. A 56-year-old woman presented with blepharospasm in February 1985 and with torticollis in April 1985. She was diagnosed as having SLE in 1966, on the basis of positive LE cells, when she presented with fever and joint pains. There was no evidence that she had ever been on major tranquilizers. An attempt has been made to correlate the level of antibody titres and exacerbation of these movements with response to steroids. The possibility of an association between blepharospasm, torticollis, and autoimmune disorders has recently been considered.