A Systematic Review of Peripheral and Central Nervous System Involvement of Rheumatoid Arthritis, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Primary Sjögren's Syndrome, and Associated Immunological Profiles

Both central (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS) complications are frequent and varied in connective tissue diseases. A systematic review was conducted between 1989 and 2014 in the databases Medline, Scopus, and Cochrane Library using the search terms, peripheral and central nervous complications and immunological profiles, to identify studies in specific connective tissue disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and primary Sjögren’s syndrome. A total of 675 references were identified, of which 118 were selected for detailed analysis and 22 were included in the final review with a total of 2338 participants. Our search focused only on studies upon connective tissue disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and primary Sjögren’s syndrome associated with seroimmunological data. The reported prevalence of CNS involvement ranges from 9 to 92% across the reported studies. However, the association between CNS and PNS manifestations and seroimmunological profiles remains controversial. Τo date, no laboratory test has been shown as pathognomonic neither for CNS nor for PNS involvement.