Cerebral systemic lupus erythematosus presenting with catatonia.

A 13 year old girl with catatonia resulting from cerebral lupus is described. She had concurrent minor epileptic status, but abolition of her seizure activity failed to influence her catatonic state. She recovered after treatment with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents. Cerebral lupus should be considered in the differential diagnosis in patients presenting with catatonia.