Meningitis is a rare complication of
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), potentially leading to a fatal outcome. The demographic, clinical, and laboratory features, and the outcomes of
meningitis were evaluated in Korean patients with SLE. In a retrospective medical record review of 1420 SLE patients, 20 patients who had developed septic or
aseptic meningitis were identified. In 11 patients, the causative microorganisms were identified ('septic
meningitis'), and Cryptococcus neoformans was the major pathogen. The other nine patients were diagnosed with
aseptic meningitis. The patients with septic
meningitis were older than those with
aseptic meningitis (p = 0.025) and displayed mental changes more often (p = 0.005). Leukocyte counts in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were higher (p = 0.044) and the levels of CSF
glucose were lower in the septic
meningitis group (p = 0.036). Plasma leukocyte counts and neutrophil counts were higher in patients with septic
meningitis (p = 0.037 and p = 0.020, respectively).
Meningitis was observed in 1.4% of Korean patients with SLE and, in 55% of the
meningitis patients, microorganisms were isolated and Cryptococcus neoformans was most commonly identified. Altered mental status, plasma
leukocytosis, neutrophilia, and CSF
pleocytosis and
hypoglycemia were more prominent in patients with septic
meningitis.