Central nervous system involvement in childhood systemic lupus erythematosus

The records of 37 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) followed at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia between 1968 and 1978 were reviewed for evidence of central nervous system (CNS) involvement. Criteria for CNS involvement included evidence of organic brain syndrome, electroencephalographic abnormalities with symptoms referable to CNS, or objective neurologic signs. Sixteen of 37 children had CNS involvement (43%). Thirteen patients had CNS involvement at the onset of SLE. Three patients had late onset CNS manifestations 1 to 2 years after the diagnosis of SLE. The most frequently observed symptoms were headache, behavior disorder, lethargy, diplopia, blurred vision, memory alteration, dizziness, and alteration of consciousness. The most frequently observed neurologic signs were seizures, cranial nerve palsy, ataxia, papilledema, nystagmus, meningitis, tremor, rigidity, cortical blindness, and coma. Neuropsychiatric manifestations included organic brain syndrome, functional psychosis, and personality disorder. Laboratory tests showed elevated cerebrospinal fluid opening pressure and protein, negative cultures, and abnormal electroencephalograms and computerized axial tomography scans. Fourteen of 16 children with CNS manifestations are alive. Thirteen had a mean IQ of 89 by the Wechsler Intelligence Tests. Twelve are in educational programs. One required long-term psychiatric care. A residual neurologic abnormality, a seizure disorder, was present in 3. CNS involvement with SLE in children carries a favorable prognosis.