Lupus cerebritis is an inflammatory injury in the central nervous system secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Clinically, however, lupus cerebritis is often diagnosed by the presence of neuropsychiatric symptoms in a patient with SLE that cannot be explained by a more specific physiologic mechanism, such as stroke or vasculitis. The clinical presentation of lupus cerebritis is diverse, and includes focal neurologic deficits, encephalopathy, seizures, stroke, psychosis, and headache. Its onset may be acute or subacute.

Neurologic symptoms occur in the majority of patients with SLE at some point during their illness. Symptoms occur due to multiple mechanisms including vasculopathy, vasculitis, and autoantibodies, and may be augmented by other complications of SLE such as metabolic complications, infections, and treatment toxicities.

Lupus cerebritis must be distinguished from other common sequelae of SLE or its treatment, such as ischemia, infection, or uremia. Lupus cerebritis is usually treated with immunosuppression, such as corticosteroids.