[Seizures in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus]

Seizures are one of the most serious neuropsychiatric manifestations of systemic lupus erythematous (SLE). This descriptive and retrospective study aims at describing clinical and paraclinical features and therapeutic approach of seizures in patients with SLE. The characteristics of the seizure group was compared to those of a control group (patients with LES who had not presented seizures). A total of 177 patients were included in these analyses. Among them, 14 (8 %) developed seizures before, at or after the SLE diagnosis. The age of occurrence of seizures was younger than for other complications of the disease. There was no significant association with the antiphospholipid syndrome. Disease activity in these patients was significantly higher than in the control group. During the follow up, the subjects being under anticonvulsants and/or corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressive therapy, we observed good outcomes (n=5), re-occurence of seizures (n=4), cognitive impairment (n=3 ) and death (n=2). Our study shows that seizures tend to occur early in the course of SLE, in the context of important disease activity and other serious clinical manifestations and in younger individuals. Seizures portend a negative impact on the overall long-term prognosis and quality of life in patients with SLE.