Headache in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: characteristics, brain MRI patterns, and impact

Abstract Background The prevalence of primary headache in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) varies widely and whether it should be attributed to neurological involvement is controversial. We aimed investigate the characteristics SLE patients, describe its association disease-related variables brain imaging, explore impact on life. Results overall was 54.4%, migraine most common type among sufferers (48.4%). Headache severity (VAS) (HIT-6) correlated SLEDAI-2K ( P = 0.019 < 0.001, respectively) as well each other 0.006). Brain imaging abnormalities were found 25.8%, white-matter hyperintensities (WMH) being frequent pathology. Musculoskeletal manifestations, positive anti-phospholipid (aPL) antibodies, SLEDAI score ≥ 13.5 identified predictors headache. Conclusion Primary headache, especially migraine, a feature SLE, presence associated negative quality features, aPL positivity, disease activity appear predict SLE.