Around 10%-80% of patients present neurological and psychiatric symptoms. The disease process may involve the central nervous system. The most frequent CNS symptom is refractory headaches. Patients will relate the complaints in different ways. Some people develop tension headaches alongside it. Nevertheless, most patients report migraine headaches complicated by a chronic course.
While the prevalence of this symptom resembles that of the general population, the headaches significantly affect these patients more. Someone with lupus can experience a type of headache that is not relieved with pain medication; often, this is a very intense headache that lasts a long time. As such, this symptom can be particularly bothersome for patients. Vascular problems, such as cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, can cause lupus headaches.
