Central nervous system manifestations in rheumatic diseases

Abstract

Patients with multi-system rheumatic conditions may have a disease affecting the central nervous system (CNS). Central nervous system manifestations vary according to the location of the lesion and range from focal findings (e.g., stroke-like presentations), although serious neurological complications in rheumatic disease appear to be rare. The most prominent features of neurological involvement in rheumatic diseases include cerebral ischaemia and psychiatric symptoms. Little information is available on the prevalence of neurological disease in patients with a rheumatological diagnosis. Involvement of the CNS may be a striking early or presenting feature with a wide variety of manifestations. There is more clarity about the CNS syndromes attributable to systemic lupus erythematosus and new insights into the central mechanisms involved in the manifestations of Sjögren's syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis. Severe CNS involvement is associated with poor prognosis, and high mortality rate. We review the spectrum of neurological diseases in patients with a rheumatological diagnosis.