Background: Cognitive dysfunction are common and debilitating manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus The link between cognitive dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in the general population is well established, but these studies have not assessed the state in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between cardiovascular events, traditional cardiovascular risk factors, and SLE-specific risk factors as predictors of cognitive dysfunction Methods: We examined 84 consecutive patients with SLE who met ACR criteria in 1997. Age limits ranged from 18 to 69 years, mean age was 32.02 ± 1.3 years. Cognitive function estimation was evaluated by Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Folstein, 1975. Disease activity index was assessed by SLEDAI. Results: During the study identified 24 (28,6%) cases of where MMSE<24, definited as cognitive dysfunction. Analyzing the hypertension was present in 17.65% pts. with cognitive impairment. Thickeness of the GIM was established at 36.1% pts., with cognitive dysfunction. Mean values of total Ch (5.6 mmol/l) and LDL-Ch (3.3 mmol/l) were increased more marked in the group with cognitive dysfunction. Laboratory investigations revealed some immunological changes in examined pts. Antiphospholipid antibodies detected in 21(87,5%) patients with cognitive dysfunction and were significantly associated. Stroke was significantly more prevalent in patients with severe cognitive impairment .We found that in patients with cognitive dysfunction lupus activity (SLEDAI index) was predominantly medium / high at 57. 14%, while in group without cognitive affecting medium / low at 30.95 % of cases. Among the examined patients were 6 (7.11%) patients that proved high damage index - 4 points, which reported osteoporosis, diabetes, major cardiovascular events, vascular necrosis, anxiety and cataract. Regarding the cumulative dose of glucocorticosteroids (GCS) pts. with cognitive impairment accumulated mainly middle and high doses of GCS.Among 24 patients with SLE and cognitive dysfunction were detected 16 (66,7%) patients with cardiovascular diseases. Conclusions: Our results show a 24 (28,6%) prevalence of cognitive dysfunction in patients with SLE. Cognitive dysfunction has been associated with SLEspecific risk factors.