Table 1.

Characteristics differences between multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematous^7,9–12

Variable	MS	Neuro-SLE
Optic neuritis	Present and usually unilateral	Rare
Spinal cord lesions	Short segment Less than half of spinal cord diameter Nodular/homogeneous enhancement Over time may become less evident	Longitudinal extensive Predilection for central cord
Brain	DIS Periventricular: Perivenular, perpendicular to ventricle Thalamus/hypothalamus uncommon Brainstem: Dorsal but also pial surface/intra-axial trigeminus Cortical lesions are common	Presence of cortical infarcts or lacunae, microhemorrhages, calcifications Predominance of lesions in the corticosubcortical junction, sometimes crossing vascular territories White-matter lesions sparing the U-fibers Punctiform parenchymal lesions. Involvement of the basal ganglia Brain atrophy may develop
Oligoclonal bands (CSF)	Present in >90%	Present in 15% to 50%
CSF	Usually normal	Usually abnormal
ANA	Negative or low (1:80 to 1:160)	Positive or low (>1:160)
Anticardiolipin antibodies	Usually negative Positive: atypical cases	Usually positive
Extraneurologic manifestations	Absent	Present
Brain biopsy	Inflammatory demyelination	Ischemic-vasculitis-necrosis and demyelination

MS: multiple sclerosis; SLE: systemic lupus erythematous; DIS: dissemination in space; ANA: antinuclear antibodies; CSF: cerebrospinal fluid.