Background:Although the prognosis of SLE has improved significantly over the last decades,neuropsychiatric SLE(NPSLE)remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients.The pathogenesis of NPSLE is still not fully understood and reliable methods for diagnosing it are also unknown.Objectives:To investigate the epidemioclinical features and risk factors in NPSLE patients.Methods:From January 2010 to January 2016 in the rheumatology department of Guangdong General Hospital,a total of 102 NPSLE patients were enrolled in this study as the case group,with another 206 SLE patients as the control group.Clinical features and risk factors were analyzed and compared between these two groups.Results:In NPSLE group,the ratio of women to men was 11.8(mean age:29.9 years)and the mortality rate was 3.9%.16 of the 19 NP syndromes described by the ACR were present.CNS manifestations accounted for 95%of the syndromes and PNS manifestations for 5%.The highest prevalence was for headache(18.0%),seizures(14.3%)and cognitive dysfunction(13.0%).The mean SLEDAI score for NPSLE and SLE group was 19.8±7.5(range 9-45)and 13.6±3.2(range 9-26)respectively.The independent risk factors for NPSLE were limb vasculitis(OR=3.145,P=0.002),lupus nephritis(OR=2.037,P=0.017),anti ds-DNA(OR=3.096,P<0.001)and antiphospholipid antibodies(OR=6.410,P=0.001).Younger age,low platelets,anti-SSA and anti-Sm antibodies,cerebral atrophy in MRI were associated with seizures in NPSLE.Conclusions:The polymorphic phenotype of NPSLE makes it hard to diagnose and predict the clinical outcomes.Identification of the risk factors could give a clue in the future development of NPSLE in SLE patients.