Seizures are one of the most serious neuropsychiatric manifestations of systemic 
lupus erythematous (SLE). This descriptive and retrospective study aims at 
describing clinical and paraclinical features and therapeutic approach of 
seizures in patients with SLE. The characteristics of the seizure group was 
compared to those of a control group (patients with LES who had not presented 
seizures). A total of 177 patients were included in these analyses. Among them, 
14 (8 %) developed seizures before, at or after the SLE diagnosis. The age of 
occurrence of seizures was younger than for other complications of the disease. 
There was no significant association with the antiphospholipid syndrome. Disease 
activity in these patients was significantly higher than in the control group. 
During the follow up, the subjects being under anticonvulsants and/or 
corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressive therapy, we observed good outcomes 
(n=5), re-occurence of seizures (n=4), cognitive impairment (n=3 ) and death 
(n=2). Our study shows that seizures tend to occur early in the course of SLE, 
in the context of important disease activity and other serious clinical 
manifestations and in younger individuals. Seizures portend a negative impact on 
the overall long-term prognosis and quality of life in patients with SLE.