Hyperlipoproteinemia and multifocal neurologic dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Two patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, including one with neuropathologic findings, had recurrent multifocal neurologic dysfunction and hyperlipoproteinemia. The lipoprotein disturbances were complex and variable over time. Deficient lipoprotein lipase was found in both patients and appeared to be related temporally to neurologic deterioration. One of these patients had neurologic disease and lipoprotein abnormalities 2 1/2 years before SLE could be documented serologically. These studies suggest that lipoprotein lipase deficiency may be a marker for the endothelial disorder causing cerebral vasculopathy in SLE.