title: Clinical characteristics and outcomes of the meningitides in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The meningitides are rare but well-identified complications in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the clinical characteristics, risk factors, prevalence and outcomes of the meningitides (septic and aseptic) in patients with SLE.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 1988 to December 2006, we identified patients with SLE and septic or aseptic meningitis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 25 episodes of meningitis in 23 patients with SLE, from a total of 1,411 SLE patients (1.63%); in 15 out of 25 episodes, a microorganism was identified. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Listeria monocytogenes and Criptococcus neoformans represented the main microorganisms. In 10 episodes, aseptic meningitis was diagnosed. Lymphopenia, steroid use, chronic damage and systemic activity of SLE were frequent in both kinds of meningitis. Although the clinical presentation did not differ significantly, patients with septic meningitis had more residual neurological deficits (p = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Meningitis was observed in about 1.6% of the patients with SLE; in 40% of the cases, no microorganism could be isolated. A residual neurological deficit was more common in patients with septic meningitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico. baicarjf@gmail.com
authors.forename: José Fidel
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Baizabal-Carvallo
authors.forename: German
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Delgadillo-Márquez
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Estañol
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: García-Ramos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D016919:Meningitis, Cryptococcal / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index