There are a wide variety of systemic and rheumatic diseases that can develop neurological symptoms during the course of the disease. The most prevalent entities that can develop neurological symptoms are Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Sjögren’s Syndrome or dry syndrome and vasculitis.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune systemic disease that includes multiple effects on different organs (skin lesions, arthritis, nephropathy and neuropsychiatric symptoms), associated with the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA). It is more frequent in young women between 30-40 years. Neurological manifestations affect the central nervous system (CNS) more frequently than the peripheral nervous system (SNP). Its symptoms are varied and may include symptoms related to memory (cognitive impairment), psychosis, seizures, myelitis or stroke due to cerebral vasculitis, multiple mononeuritis or polyneuropathy, etc. Its treatment is based on the use of immunosuppressants.

Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune lymphoproliferative disorder that causes damage to the salivary and lacrimal glands. It affects 2-3% of the population and is associated with the presence of anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies. The neurological symptoms of the SS affects mainly at SNP, manifesting as painful sensory polyneuropathy, ataxia (incoordination of gait) or multiple mononeuropathy; but CNS complications such as trigeminal sensory neuropathy or the appearance of cerebral demyelinating lesions may also occur. Its treatment is based on symptom control, but if neurological complications appear it may be necessary to start an immunosuppressive treatment.

Systemic vasculitis is characterized by inflammation and therefore occlusion of the arteries, as a result of an autoimmune process. Symptoms will depend on the artery affected, depending on its size and location; thus, its symptomatology is also very varied. They are classified as vasculitis that affect large arteries (temporal arteritis, Takayasu arteritis); medium-caliber arteries (classical panadoseritis nodosa, Kawasaki disease); small and medium-sized arteries (Churg-Strauss syndrome, microscopic polyangiitis); or small caliber (essential cryoglobulinemia, Schonlein-Henoch purpura, leukocytoclastic vasculitis).

All these diseases are diagnosed and treated by the Rheumatology service. If any neurological complications appear, our unit evaluate ​​the patient and the treatment is decided jointly. For this reason, we hold multidisciplinary meetings with the Rheumatology and Radiology service to comment on the cases periodically.