THE SELECTIVE VALUE OF COMPUTED-TOMOGRAPHY OF THE BRAIN IN CEREBRITIS DUE TO SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 9  (6) , 850-854
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and steroid effects on the brain were measured by computed tomography (CT). Of 14 patients with SLE cerebritis, 10 (71%) had marked cortical atrophy and 4 (29%) minimal atrophy. None were normal by CT. Controls included 22 patients with SLE without cerebritis receiving corticosteroids; this group had normal CT scans in 16 (73%) and minimal cortical atrophy in the remaining 6 (27%). Follow-up CT on 5 patients with cerebritis was unchanged. CT of the brain is a minimally invasive technique for documenting SLE cerebritis. CT may also help differentiate cerebritis from the neuropsychiatric side effects of corticosteroids.