Neuropsychiatric syndromes in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease, which leads to the damage of multiple tissues and organs, including the central and peripheral nervous system. Due to the variety of neurological and psychiatric symptoms of lupus in 1999 the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) distinguished 19 neuropsychiatric syndromes that may appear in SLE and set specific criteria to diagnose them (Table I). The involvement of the nervous system in SLE occurs relatively often and neuropsychiatric syndromes correlate with severe disease progression and contribute to worse prognosis. This article presents the central nervous system (CNS) syndromes met in SLE included in the 1999 ACR classification. The latest European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for diagnosis and management of neuropsychiatric lupus are also presented.