Can determination of lactic acid and pyruvic acid in cerebrospinal fluid help in diagnosing central nervous system involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus?

The central nervous system (CNS) is frequently affected by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Other causes, especially infection, may also originate CNS disease in SLE patients. Our findings indicate that measurement of lactic acid and pyruvic acid in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may be of help in separating inactive CNS-SLE from active CNS-SLE. Also it may be of help in differentiating sterile meningitis caused by SLE from bacterial meningitis. Because of the special risk on tuberculous and fungal infections in SLE patients, also some findings concerning these specific forms of meningitis are given.