Abstract. A review is made of the literature on central nervous system involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus (CNS-SLE). Particular attention is focused on lupus myelopathy. Referring to two well-documented personal cases, the authors describe the characteristic multisystem involvement, protean clinical pattern, serum and cere brospinal fluid changes, histoimmunologic findings, response to corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents and some prognostic features.