The majority of cases involve the central nervous system (CNS), which consists of the brain and spinal cord.
There is evidence that the blood–brain barrier, which protects the central nervous system, is compromised in patients with NPSLE.
[6] For diagnosis of NPSLE, it must be determined whether neuropsychiatric symptoms are indeed caused by SLE, whether they constitute a separate comorbid condition, or whether they are an adverse effect of disease treatment.
[7] Due to the lack of uniform diagnostic standards, statistics about NPSLE vary widely.
Treatment depends on the underlying causes of a patient’s disease, and may include immunosuppressants, anticoagulants, and symptomatic therapy.