Seizures in systemic lupus erythematosus: A scoping review

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a systemic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, either by direct neuronal damage, injury to brain vessels, or by pathogenic mechanisms indirectly induced by immune mechanisms related to the production and deposition of immune complexes. The prevalence of explicit episodes of seizures among SLE patients, varies from 2 to 8%. In some cases, patients with positivity for antiphospholipid or anti-β2 glycoprotein antibodies are found to be more prone to exhibit seizures compared to seronegative patients, other subjects at risk are carries of gene abnormalities codifying for ion channels. The exclusion of vasculitis or thrombosis is required for accurate treatment, imaging studies and alternative sequences are mandatory in patients with known SLE who present with a seizure. Several statements regarding SLE-related seizure remain to be decoded. In this scoping review we analyzed published information about prevalence, pathogenesis, clinical characteristics, diagnostic and therapeutic SLE patients that manifest a seizure, our objective is to provide with useful information for prompt diagnosis and individualized treatment.