Egyptian Rheumatology and Rehabilitation

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2018  |  Volume : 45  |  Issue : 2  |  Page : 49--56

Subclinical neuropsychiatric dysfunctions in female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus


Caroline S Morad1, Howaida E Mansour1, Soha E Ibrahim2, Khaled A Ahmad3, Shaimaa G Arafa1 
1 Internal Medicine Department, Rheumatology Division, Ain Shams University, Egypt
2 Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Department, Ain Shams University, Egypt
3 Radiodiagnosis Department, Ain Shams University, Egypt

Correspondence Address:
Caroline S Morad
Internal Medicine Department, Rheumatology Division, Ain Shams University
Egypt

Objective To examine for presence of subclinical neuropsychiatric lupus and cerebral atherosclerosis and their correlation with MRI/magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) findings and disease activity and to find if these radiological changes compared with laboratory parameters could be predictive of the early NP affection aiming for early management of these dysfunctions. Patients and methods Thirty adult female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were enrolled, with assessment of SLE disease activity using Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index; psychometric evaluations using the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination to assess for cognitive dysfunction; Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and Hamilton Anxiety Scale to assess for depression and anxiety, respectively; and brain MRI/MRA to detect any changes in subclinical cases. Results The mean age was 31.7 years. Twelve (40%) patients had positive antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies with or without clinically evident antiphospholipid syndrome, 22 (73.33%) had different NP manifestations, 13 (43.3%) depression, 15 (50%) anxiety, and 16 (53.3%) cognitive dysfunction. All patients with depression and anxiety and 87.5% of patients with dementia showed abnormalities on MRI. All patients with positive aPL showed abnormalities on MRI, whereas abnormalities on MRI were found in only eight patients with SLE with negative aPL (100 vs. 44.4%). There was a significant correlation between SLE disease activity and both NP manifestations and abnormalities on MRI/MRA, and also between aPL antibodies and NP manifestations. Abnormalities on MRI included discrete white matter lesions, cortical atrophy, and gross infarctions. Conclusion Significant number of patients with SLE without overt NP manifestations had subclinical cerebrovascular and cognitive dysfunctions, depression, and anxiety by simple bedside questionnaires. SLE disease activity positively correlates with NP manifestations. The presence of aPL antibodies is a strong risk factor for developing NP SLE. Several distinct brain MRI patterns were observed in patients with active NP SLE, suggestive of different pathogenic mechanisms.


How to cite this article:
Morad CS, Mansour HE, Ibrahim SE, Ahmad KA, Arafa SG. Subclinical neuropsychiatric dysfunctions in female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.Egypt Rheumatol Rehabil 2018;45:49-56


How to cite this URL:
Morad CS, Mansour HE, Ibrahim SE, Ahmad KA, Arafa SG. Subclinical neuropsychiatric dysfunctions in female patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Egypt Rheumatol Rehabil [serial online] 2018 [cited 2024 Mar 29 ];45:49-56
Available from: http://www.err.eg.net/article.asp?issn=1110-161X;year=2018;volume=45;issue=2;spage=49;epage=56;aulast=Morad;type=0