Cerebellar ataxia in systemic lupus erythematosus

Animal models of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus: deciphering the complexity and guiding therapeutic development

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) poses formidable challenges due to its multifaceted etiology while impacting multiple tissues and organs and displaying diverse clinical manifestations. Genetic and environmental factors contribute to SLE complexity, with relatively limited approved therapeutic options. Murine models offer insights into SLE pathogenesis but do not always replicate the nuances of human disease. This review critically evaluates spontaneous and induced animal models, emphasizing their validity and relevance to neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE). While these models undoubtedly contribute to understanding disease pathophysiology, discrepancies persist in mimicking some NPSLE intricacies. The lack of literature addressing this issue impedes therapeutic progress. We underscore the urgent need for refining models that truly reflect NPSLE complexities to enhance translational fidelity. We encourage a comprehensive, creative translational approach for targeted SLE interventions, balancing scientific progress with ethical considerations to eventually improve the management of NPSLE patients. A thorough grasp of these issues informs researchers in designing experiments, interpreting results, and exploring alternatives to advance NPSLE research.

Lupus Cerebellitis Presenting With Ataxia: A Case Report

We report a case of a woman with a history of systemic lupus erythematosus who developed persistent ataxia and was diagnosis with lupus cerebellitis. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed T2/FLAIR signal hyperintensity within the cerebellar vermis without mass effect. The patient's condition improved with pulse IV methylprednisolone. This case highlights unique imaging findings within the cerebellum, our diagnostic and treatment regimen, and compares this case to previous literature on similar cases.

Movement disorders in systemic autoimmune diseases: Clinical spectrum, ancillary investigations, pathophysiological considerations

With the advances in neuroimmunology especially due to the discovery of new neuronal antibodies, the recognition of treatable antibody-related movement disorders has recently received much attention. In contrast, the identification and characterisation of movement disorders associated with systemic autoimmune diseases remains a substantially unexplored area. Beyond the classic few associations such as chorea and antiphospholipid syndrome, or ataxia and coeliac disease, movement disorders have been reported in association with several systemic autoimmune diseases, however a clear image of clinical phenotypes, investigations, and treatment outcomes in these conditions has never been drawn. In this review, we analyse data from approximately 300 cases and summarise the epidemiological, clinical and diagnostic features of movement disorders associated with systemic autoimmune diseases, and the available knowledge about treatment and outcomes. We highlight that movement disorders in systemic autoimmune conditions are frequently the only or among a few presenting manifestations and are mostly treatable disorders responding to immunotherapy or dietary modifications. We point out the pertinent combination of clinical features and investigations which can suggest the underlying autoimmune nature of these movement disorders, and thus address the most appropriate treatment.

Structural Changes on MRI Demonstrate Specific Cerebellar Involvement in SLE Patients-A VBM Study

The purpose of this study is to investigate possible differences in brain structure, as measured by T1-weighted MRI, between patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and healthy controls (HC), and whether any observed differences were in turn more severe in SLE patients with neuropsychiatric manifestations (NPSLE) than those without (non-NPSLE). Structural T1-weighted MRI was performed on 69 female SLE patients (mean age = 35.8 years, range = 18–51 years) and 24 age-matched female HC (mean age = 36.8 years, range = 23–52 years) in conjunction with neuropsychological assessment using the CNS Vital Signs test battery. T1-weighted images were preprocessed and analyzed by FSL-VBM. The results show that SLE patients had lower grey matter probability values than the control group in the VIIIa of the cerebellum bilaterally, a region that has previously been implied in sensorimotor processing in human and non-human primates. No structural differences for this region were found between NPSLE and non-NPSLE patients. VBM values from the VIIIa region showed a weak positive correlation with the psychomotor speed domain from CNS Vital Signs (p = 0.05, r = 0.21), which is in line with its presumed role as a sensorimotor processing area.

A Novel Microglia-Specific Transcriptional Signature Correlates With Behavioral Deficits in Neuropsychiatric Lupus

Neuropsychiatric symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus (NP-SLE) affect over one-half of SLE patients, yet underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. We demonstrate that SLE-prone mice (CReCOM) develop NP-SLE, including behavioral deficits prior to systemic autoimmunity, reduced brain volumes, decreased vascular integrity, and brain-infiltrating leukocytes. NP-SLE microglia exhibit numerical expansion, increased synaptic uptake, and a more metabolically active phenotype. Microglia from multiple SLE-prone models express a "NP-SLE signature" unrelated to type I interferon. Rather, the signature is associated with lipid metabolism, scavenger receptor activity and downregulation of inflammatory and chemotaxis processes, suggesting a more regulatory, anti-inflammatory profile. NP-SLE microglia also express genes associated with disease-associated microglia (DAM), a subset of microglia thought to be instrumental in neurodegenerative diseases. Further, expression of "NP-SLE" and "DAM" signatures correlate with the severity of behavioral deficits in young SLE-prone mice prior to overt systemic disease. Our data are the first to demonstrate the predictive value of our newly identified microglia-specific "NP-SLE" and "DAM" signatures as a surrogate for NP-SLE clinical outcomes and suggests that microglia-intrinsic defects precede contributions from systemic SLE for neuropsychiatric manifestations.

Immune-mediated ataxias

Immune-mediated cerebellar ataxia (CA) comprises a group of rare diseases that are still incompletely described, and are probably underdiagnosed. Both acute and progressive progressions are possible. Different syndromes have been identified, including CA associated with anti-GAD antibodies, the cerebellar type of Hashimoto encephalopathy, primary autoimmune CA, gluten ataxia, opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome, and paraneoplastic cerebellar degenerations. Most of these syndromes are associated with autoantibodies targeting neuronal antigens. Additionally, autoimmune CA can be triggered by infections, especially in children, and in rare cases occur in the context of an autoimmune multisystem disease, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis, or Behçet disease. A careful workup is needed to distinguish autoimmune CA from other causes. In adults, a paraneoplastic origin must be ruled out, especially in cases with subacute onset. Neurologic outcome in adults is frequently poor, and optimal therapeutic strategies remain ill defined. The outcome in children is in general good, but children with a poor recovery are on record. The precise pathophysiologic mechanisms even in the presence of detectable autoantibodies are still largely unknown. Further research is needed on both the clinical and mechanistic aspects of immune-mediated CA, and to determine optimal therapeutic strategies.

Demyelinating syndrome in SLE encompasses different subtypes: Do we need new classification criteria? Pooled results from systematic literature review and monocentric cohort analysis

OBJECTIVE

To describe features of demyelinating syndrome (DS) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

METHODS

A systematic review using a combination of Mesh terms in PubMed and a retrospective analysis of 343 adult patients with SLE were carried out to identify patients with DS. Retrieved cases were classified as affected with DS according to 1999 ACR nomenclature and attributed to SLE by applying the 2015 algorithm. DS defined according to the clinical but not temporal 1999 ACR criteria was classified as clinically isolated syndrome (CIS).

RESULTS

Estimated prevalence of DS (including CIS) in the SLE cohort was 1.3% and incidence rate was 1.5 cases per 1000 patient-years. Overall, 100 cases from literature review and 4 from SLE cohort were identified and are presented as a whole: 49 (47.1%) were classified as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), 29 (27.9%) as CIS, 14 (13.5%) as NMO, 7 (6.7%) as DS prominently involving the brainstem and 5 (4.8%) as DS prominently involving the brain. DS was the SLE onset manifestation in 41 (39.4%) patients. Longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis was the most frequent manifestations being present in 73 (70.2%) patients (37 NMOSD, 21 CIS, 14 NMO, 1 DSB). Methylprednisolone (79.8%) and cyclophosphamide (55.8%) pulses, but also plasma-exchange (16.3%) and rituximab (7.6%) in relapsing-refractory cases, were mostly prescribed. Complete recovery rate ranged between 62% in CIS to 7% in NMO.

CONCLUSION

DS in SLE is rare (1%) and encompasses different subtypes including CIS. Timely diagnosis and early treatment are recommended to minimize complications.

Consensus Paper: Neuroimmune Mechanisms of Cerebellar Ataxias

In the last few years, a lot of publications suggested that disabling cerebellar ataxias may develop through immune-mediated mechanisms. In this consensus paper, we discuss the clinical features of the main described immune-mediated cerebellar ataxias and address their presumed pathogenesis. Immune-mediated cerebellar ataxias include cerebellar ataxia associated with anti-GAD antibodies, the cerebellar type of Hashimoto's encephalopathy, primary autoimmune cerebellar ataxia, gluten ataxia, Miller Fisher syndrome, ataxia associated with systemic lupus erythematosus, and paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration. Humoral mechanisms, cell-mediated immunity, inflammation, and vascular injuries contribute to the cerebellar deficits in immune-mediated cerebellar ataxias.

Movement and Other Neurodegenerative Syndromes in Patients with Systemic Rheumatic Diseases: A Case Series of 8 Patients and Review of the Literature

Patients with rheumatic diseases can present with movement and other neurodegenerative disorders. It may be underappreciated that movement and other neurodegenerative disorders can encompass a wide variety of disease entities. Such disorders are strikingly heterogeneous and lead to a wider spectrum of clinical injury than seen in Parkinson's disease. Therefore, we sought to stringently phenotype movement and other neurodegenerative disorders presenting in a case series of rheumatic disease patients. We integrated our findings with a review of the literature to understand mechanisms which may account for such a ubiquitous pattern of clinical injury.Seven rheumatic disease patients (5 Sjögren's syndrome patients, 2 undifferentiated connective tissue disease patients) were referred and could be misdiagnosed as having Parkinson's disease. However, all of these patients were ultimately diagnosed as having other movement or neurodegenerative disorders. Findings inconsistent with and more expansive than Parkinson's disease included cerebellar degeneration, dystonia with an alien-limb phenomenon, and nonfluent aphasias.A notable finding was that individual patients could be affected by cooccurring movement and other neurodegenerative disorders, each of which could be exceptionally rare (ie, prevalence of ∼1:1000), and therefore with the collective probability that such disorders were merely coincidental and causally unrelated being as low as ∼1-per-billion. Whereas our review of the literature revealed that ubiquitous patterns of clinical injury were frequently associated with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings suggestive of a widespread vasculopathy, our patients did not have such neuroimaging findings. Instead, our patients could have syndromes which phenotypically resembled paraneoplastic and other inflammatory disorders which are known to be associated with antineuronal antibodies. We similarly identified immune-mediated and inflammatory markers of injury in a psoriatic arthritis patient who developed an amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-plus syndrome after tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-inhibitor therapy.We have described a diverse spectrum of movement and other neurodegenerative disorders in our rheumatic disease patients. The widespread pattern of clinical injury, the propensity of our patients to present with co-occurring movement disorders, and the lack of MRI neuroimaging findings suggestive of a vasculopathy collectively suggest unique patterns of immune-mediated injury.

Magnetic resonance imaging findings in patients presenting with (sub)acute cerebellar ataxia

INTRODUCTION

Acute or subacute cerebellar inflammation is mainly caused by postinfectious, toxic, neoplastic, vascular, or idiopathic processes and can result in cerebellar ataxia. Previous magnetic resonance (MR) studies in single patients who developed acute or subacute ataxia showed varying imaging features.

METHODS

Eighteen patients presenting with acute and subacute onset of ataxia were included in this study. Cases of chronic-progressive/hereditary and noncerebellar causes (ischemia, multiple sclerosis lesions, metastasis, bleedings) were excluded. MR imaging findings were then matched with the clinical history of the patient.

RESULTS

An underlying etiology for ataxic symptoms were found in 14/18 patients (postinfectious/infectious, paraneoplastic, autoimmune, drug-induced). In two of five patients without MR imaging findings and three of eight patients with minimal imaging features (cerebellar atrophy, slight signal alterations, and small areas of restricted diffusion), adverse clinical outcomes were documented. Of the five patients with prominent MR findings (cerebellar swelling, contrast enhancement, or broad signal abnormalities), two were lost to follow-up and two showed long-term sequelae.

CONCLUSION

No correlation was found between the presence of initial MRI findings in subacute or acute ataxia patients and their long-term clinical outcome. MR imaging was more flagrantly positive in cases due to encephalitis.

Case report of subacute cerebellar ataxia of adolescence with long-term sequelae

Acute ataxia is not an uncommon childhood complaint. It most commonly occurs in young patients secondary to a postinfectious cerebellitis, which is typically associated with a very good prognosis and recovery. In adolescence, acute cerebellar ataxia is more often the product of an etiology likely to progress into a chronic disorder without recovery to preillness baseline. In the present case, the authors describe a 15-year-old girl with subacute cerebellar ataxia of presumed immune-mediated etiology that advanced into a chronic cerebellar ataxia. Due to a family history, celiac disease was suspected as the origin of the ataxia; biopsy ruled out enteropathy, and the severe, abrupt radiological changes to the patient's cerebellum are inconsistent with the reported sequelae of gluten ataxia. This case serves as a discussion for diagnostic challenges in adolescent patients with acute cerebellar ataxia with long-term sequelae as well as providing an adjunct discussion on the neurological complications of celiac disease.

Evaluation of the child with acute ataxia: a systematic review

Evaluation of acute ataxia in a child poses a dilemma for the clinician in determining the extent and timing of initial screening tests. This article reviews the evidence concerning the diagnostic yield of commonly ordered tests in evaluating the child with acute ataxia. The literature revealed the following frequencies of laboratory screening abnormalities in children with acute ataxia: CT (∼2.5%), MRI (∼5%), lumbar puncture (43%), EEG (42%), and toxicology (49%). In most studies, abnormalities detected by these screening tests were nondiagnostic. There are insufficient data to assess yields of testing for autoimmune disorders or inborn errors of metabolism. A toxicology screen should be considered in all children presenting with acute ataxia. Neuroimaging should be considered in all children with new onset ataxia. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis has limited diagnostic specificity unless clinically indicated. Studies to examine neurophysiology testing did have sufficient evidence to support their use. There is insufficient evidence to establish a role for autoantibody testing or for routine screening for inborn error of metabolism in children presenting with acute ataxia. Finally, in a child presenting with ataxia and opsoclonus myoclonus, urine catecholamine testing for occult neuroblastoma is recommended. Nuclear scan may be considered, however, there is insufficient evidence for additional body imaging.

Movement disorders in systemic lupus erythematosus and the antiphospholipid syndrome

Movement disorders (MDs), particularly chorea, may be the presenting neurological complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), but the association is not often initially recognized. Current evidence suggests an autoimmune mechanism related to antiphospholipid antibodies in these two conditions, although the antigenic target within the central nervous system has not yet been identified. Based on a comprehensive review of the literature, this article summarizes the current knowledge on MDs in SLE and APS. A high index of suspicion is required to make an early diagnosis and initiate appropriate treatment to provide symptomatic relief and to prevent other systemic complications related to the autoimmune process.

Movement disorders in autoimmune diseases

Movement disorders have been known to be associated with a variety of autoimmune diseases, including Sydenham's chorea, pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcus, systemic lupus erythematosus, antiphospholipid syndrome, gluten sensitivity, paraneoplastic and autoimmune encephalopathies. Tremors, dystonia, chorea, ballism, myoclonus, parkinsonism, and ataxia may be the initial and even the only presentation of these autoimmune diseases. Although antibodies directed against various cellular components of the central nervous system have been implicated, the pathogenic mechanisms of these autoimmune movement disorders have not yet been fully elucidated. Clinical recognition of these autoimmune movement disorders is critically important as many improve with immunotherapy or dietary modifications, particularly when diagnosed early. We discuss here the clinical features, pathogenic mechanisms, and treatments of movement disorders associated with autoimmune diseases, based on our own experience and on a systematic review of the literature.

Subacute cerebellar ataxia and atrophy developed in a young woman with systemic lupus erythematosus whose cerebrospinal fluid was positive for antineuronal cell antibody

Subacute cerebellar ataxia in combination with cerebellar atrophy has rarely been reported as one of the manifestations of lupus in the central nervous system (CNS). We describe a 27-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus who developed subacute cerebellar ataxia. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of her brain showed cerebellar atrophy in both hemispheres, particularly on the right side. Moreover, increased antineuronal cell antibody levels were detected in her cerebrospinal fluid. The cerebellar ataxia improved markedly following high-dose corticosteroid administration. This suggests that a relationship exists between autoantibodies and subacute atrophic processes in CNS lupus.

Acute cerebellar ataxia in lupus

Acute cerebellar ataxia in patients with lupus is rare and occurs early in the course of disease. We report a case of acute cerebellar ataxia in a young adult female who recovered completely with intravenous high-dose steroid therapy.

Clinical presentation of immune-mediated cerebellar ataxia

INTRODUCTION

Accumulation of recent clinical evidence indicates that the immune system plays an important role in some central nervous system diseases usually regarded as degenerative. The most striking example is paraneoplastic cerebellar ataxia (PCA), which is characterized by autoimmune cross-reaction between tumoral and nervous system antigens.

STATE OF THE ART

In the past 20 years, several antibodies directed against neuronal and tumoral antigens have been described in association with PCA, leading to the description of different subtypes of PCA based on the associated antibodies, the clinical course and the type of tumor. In some subtypes, cerebellar ataxia occurs in isolation, whereas in others, cerebellar ataxia is a syndrome that occurs in conjunction with extensive nervous system disease. Circulating antibodies have also been described in patients with non-paraneoplastic cerebellar ataxia (N-PCA), suggesting that the immune system may be involved in certain cases of sporadic cerebellar ataxia.

PERSPECTIVE

Immune-mediated cerebellar ataxia does not seem to be limited to paraneoplastic neurological syndromes. Further studies are however necessary to understand the exact pathophysiology of these disorders and offer effective treatments.

CONCLUSION

In this review, the clinical presentation of the different subtypes of potentially immune-mediated PCA and N-PCA will be described, and the associated tumors will be discussed.

Cerebral and cerebellar volume loss in children and adolescents with systemic lupus erythematosus: a review of clinically acquired brain magnetic resonance imaging

OBJECTIVE

Cerebral atrophy is a prominent feature in adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We assessed cerebral and cerebellar volume loss on clinically acquired brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of children and adolescents with SLE.

METHODS

We abstracted information on disease course for patients who underwent clinical brain MRI during the period 2002-2008. We completed qualitative assessments of volume loss and measured corpus callosum thickness and ventricular enlargement for patients with lupus and controls.

RESULTS

Forty-nine children underwent brain MRI during the review period due to clinical indications. The lupus cohort was predominantly female and ethnically diverse. Mean age at imaging was 15.3 +/- 2.6 years and mean disease duration was 30.6 +/- 33.3 months. Findings suggestive of cerebral and cerebellar volume loss were seen respectively in 89.8% and 91.8% of lupus patients. Cerebral volume loss was moderate or severe in 26.5% of children. Cerebellar volume loss was moderate in 20.4% of these patients. Linear measurement means reflected corpus callosum thinning and ventricular enlargement in lupus patients. Volume loss was observed in newly diagnosed patients prior to corticosteroid use. Disease duration and corticosteroid use did not predict the severity of volume loss. There were statistically significant differences in linear imaging measurements comparing lupus patients to 14 similar-age controls.

CONCLUSION

Regional volume loss was observed in most adolescents with lupus undergoing clinical brain MRI scans. As in other pediatric conditions with inflammatory or vascular etiologies, these findings may be reflecting disease-associated neuronal loss and not solely the effects of corticosteroid.

Past, present and future therapeutics for cerebellar ataxias

Cerebellar ataxias are a group of disabling neurological disorders. Patients exhibit a cerebellar syndrome and can also present with extra-cerebellar deficits, namely pigmentary retinopathy, extrapyramidal movement disorders, pyramidal signs, cortical symptoms (seizures, cognitive impairment/behavioural symptoms), and peripheral neuropathy. Recently, deficits in cognitive operations have been unraveled. Cerebellar ataxias are heterogeneous both at the phenotypic and genotypic point of view. Therapeutical trials performed during these last 4 decades have failed in most cases, in particular because drugs were not targeting a deleterious pathway, but were given to counteract putative defects in neurotransmission. The identification of the causative mutations of many hereditary ataxias, the development of relevant animal models and the recent identifications of the molecular mechanisms underlying ataxias are impacting on the development of new drugs. We provide an overview of the pharmacological treatments currently used in the clinical practice and we discuss the drugs under development.

Fifteen-year-old girl with systemic lupus erythematosus and unilateral cerebellitis

Cerebellar involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus has rarely been described as one of the neurologic manifestations. There has been only one previous pediatric case of cerebellar edema reported in the literature. The differential diagnosis, magnetic resonance imaging findings and treatment modalities are described in the case of a 15-year-old girl who presented with headache, vomiting, unsteady gait, and sudden change in mental status.