[Headache in the pathology of small cerebral blood vessels: study of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus].

Seventy-two records of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus were reviewed retrospectively. Sixty-one fulfilled the criteria for the disease. Forty-six percent had clinical evidence of central nervous system involvement. The incidence of headache was compared in those with and without central nervous system lupus. No difference in the frequency of headache in the two groups was found and the incidence of hypertension, renal disease and steroid therapy was equally distributed among those with and without headache. A significantly higher incidence of hypertension was found in patients with central nervous system lupus erythematosus. We conclude that headache in systemic lupus erythematosus in the absence of neurologic symptoms or signs is no indication of central nervous system involvement by the process and that small vessel disease of the brain is not a cause of headache.