Noninfectious causes include Autoimmune rheumatic disorders including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and Sjögren syndrome Intracranial arteritis Neurosarcoidosis Behçet syndrome Chronic idiopathic meningitis Occasionally, chronic, usually lymphocytic meningitis persists for months or even years, but no organisms are identified; and death does not result.