SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS (SLE)-CNS

SUMMARY

1. Cognitive/behavioral changes (most common), headaches, psychosis, mood changes (depression), aseptic meningitis, organic brain syndrome, seizures, chorea, and strokes occur with SLE.

2. Even severe abnormalities may clear rapidly with regression of disease.

3. MRI of the brain may show scattered areas of increased intensity, suggesting a vasculopathy.

4. Evaluate all neuropsychiatric lupus patients for infection with LP, particularly if immunosuppressed.

5. Anti-Smith, anti-neuronal, and anti-ribosomal P protein antibodies are associated with CNS disease.

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
Feather, A., Randall, D. and Waterhouse, M. (2020). Kumar And Clark’s Clinical Medicine. 10th ed. S.L.: Elsevier Health Sciences. Get it on Amazon.
Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].