Central nervous system involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus: a new therapeutic approach with intrathecal dexamethasone and methotrexate

Summary In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), neurological involvement has been reported to occur with frequencies ranging from 14% (severe cases) to 83% (mild forms included). In spite of early diagnosis and aggressive treatment, neuropsychiatric SLE may represent a serious problem of management. We describe three cases, one with acute transverse myelitis, one with hemiparesis, and one with signs of focal and diffuse cerebral dysfunction, in whom improvement following intrathecal therapy with methotrexate and dexamethasone was observed.