Cerebral computed tomography and electroencephalography compared with neuropsychological findings in systemic lupus erythematosus

Central nervous system involvement was evaluated in 36 patients with system ic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using cerebral computed tomography (CT), elect roencephalography (EEG), and a neuropsychological test battery. The purpose was to investigate whether brain dysfunction as assessed by comprehensive neuropsychological investigation is associated with findings of routine inv estigation methods such as CT and EEG which are available in most hospitals . Abnormal EEG was found in 19%, and CT revealed cerebral atrophy in 47% of SLE patients. Few neuropsychological functions were affected by the presen ce of abnormal EEG, cerebral atrophy, or infarcts. Significant associations were found only between cortical atrophy and impairment of tactile spatial problem-solving and motor dexterity, and between cortical infarcts and mot or dexterity in the dominant hand. The value of conventional EEG in assessi ng cerebral SLE is negligible, except for identifying epileptic activity an d focal pathology. Cerebral CT has little relevance in predicting brain dys function as established by neuropsychological assessment in SLE, except for detecting cortical atrophy and infarcts.