Cerebral involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus

: Four patients with central nervous system lupus erythematosus (SLE), were studied with nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (NMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) to assess cerebral blood flow and glucose metabolism. The NMRI showed brain atrophy and demyelinating defects. The PET scan showed cerebral blood flow and metabolic abnormalities that improved in one patient after neuropsychiatric recovery. These preliminary findings demonstrate cerebral derangements in patients with SLE cerebritis.