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Unal D, Cam V, Emreol HE, Özen S. Diagnosis and Management of Pediatric Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: An Update. Paediatr Drugs 2024; 26:381-395. [PMID: 38805115 DOI: 10.1007/s40272-024-00632-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is a potentially serious and life-threatening complication of SLE. The presentation and severity of neuropsychiatric involvement in SLE may show considerable variability. The disease can affect the neural tissue directly or may be associated with vascular involvement, mainly associated with anti-phospholipid (aPL) antibodies. A direct causal link with SLE may sometimes be challenging since there are many confounding factors and the symptoms may be non-specific. Despite its remarkable sensitivity in detecting hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, transverse myelitis and ischemic infarction, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lacks the spatial resolution required to identify microvascular involvement. When standard MRI fails to detect a suspicious lesion, it is advisable to use advanced imaging modalities such as positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) or quantitative MRI, if available. Even with these advanced modalities, the specificity of neuroimaging in NPSLE remains inadequate (60-82% for MRI). Neuropsychiatric syndromes, such as cerebrovascular events, seizures and cognitive impairments appear to be associated with serum aPL antibodies. Some studies have shown that anti-ribosomal P antibodies have a low sensitivity for NPSLE and a limited contribution to the differentiation of different clinical entities. Treatment has two main goals: symptomatic relief and treatment of the disease itself. Commonly used immunosuppressants for NPSLE include cyclophosphamide (CYC), azathioprine (AZA), and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). According to EULAR's current recommendation, strong immunosuppressants such as CYC and rituximab (RTX) should be preferred. Biologics have also been used in NPSLE. Fingolimod, eculizumab, and JAK inhibitors are potential drugs in the pipeline. Developing targeted therapies will be possible by a better understanding of the pathological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilara Unal
- Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Hacettepe University Medical Faculty, Sihhiye Campus, 06100, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Veysel Cam
- Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Hacettepe University Medical Faculty, Sihhiye Campus, 06100, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Hulya Ercan Emreol
- Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Hacettepe University Medical Faculty, Sihhiye Campus, 06100, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Seza Özen
- Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, Hacettepe University Medical Faculty, Sihhiye Campus, 06100, Ankara, Turkey.
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Vacca S, Porcu M, Piga M, Mannelli L, Chessa E, Suri JS, Balestrieri A, Cauli A, Saba L. Structural Brain MR Imaging Alterations in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with and without Neuropsychiatric Events. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 2024; 45:802-808. [PMID: 38637023 DOI: 10.3174/ajnr.a8200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Systemic lupus erythematosus is a complex autoimmune disease known for its diverse clinical manifestations, including neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus, which impacts a patient's quality of life. Our aim was to explore the relationships among brain MR imaging morphometric findings, neuropsychiatric events, and laboratory values in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, shedding light on potential volumetric biomarkers and diagnostic indicators for neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-seven patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (14 with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus, 13 with systemic lupus erythematosus), 24 women and 3 men (average age, 43 years, ranging from 21 to 62 years) were included in this cross-sectional study, along with 10 neuropsychiatric patients as controls. An MR imaging morphometric analysis, with the VolBrain online platform, to quantitatively assess brain structural features and their differences between patients with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus and systemic lupus erythematosus, was performed. Correlations and differences between MR imaging morphometric findings and laboratory values, including disease activity scores, such as the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index and the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Damage Index, were explored. An ordinary least squares regression analysis further explored the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Damage Index relationship with MR imaging features. RESULTS For neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus and non-neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus, the brain regions with the largest difference in volumetric measurements were the insular central operculum volume (P value = .003) and the occipital cortex thickness (P = .003), which were lower in neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus. The partial correlation analysis showed that the most correlated morphometric features with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus were subcallosal area thickness asymmetry (P < .001) and temporal pole thickness asymmetry (P = .011). The ordinary least squares regression analysis yielded an R 2 of 0.725 for the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index score, with calcarine cortex volume as a significant predictor, and an R 2 of 0.715 for the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Damage Index score, with medial postcentral gyrus volume as a significant predictor. CONCLUSIONS The MR imaging volumetric analysis, along with the correlation study and the ordinary least squares regression analysis, revealed significant differences in brain regions and their characteristics between patients with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus and those with systemic lupus erythematosus, as well as between patients with different Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Damage Index scores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastiano Vacca
- From the School of Medicine and Surgery (S.V.), University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Michele Porcu
- Department of Radiology (M. Piga, A.B., L.S.), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Matteo Piga
- Department of Medical Science and Public Health (M. Porcu, A.B., A.C.), University of Calgiari, Cagliari, Italy
- Rheumatology Unit (M. Piga, E.C., A.C.), Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Mannelli
- Institute for Hospitalization and Healthcare (L.M.), SDN, Napoli, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Chessa
- Rheumatology Unit (M. Piga, E.C., A.C.), Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Jasjit S Suri
- Stroke Monitoring and Diagnostic Division (J.S.S.), AtheroPoint, Roseville, California
| | - Antonella Balestrieri
- Department of Radiology (M. Piga, A.B., L.S.), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Cagliari, Italy
- Department of Medical Science and Public Health (M. Porcu, A.B., A.C.), University of Calgiari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alberto Cauli
- Department of Medical Science and Public Health (M. Porcu, A.B., A.C.), University of Calgiari, Cagliari, Italy
- Rheumatology Unit (M. Piga, E.C., A.C.), Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Luca Saba
- Department of Radiology (M. Piga, A.B., L.S.), Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria, Cagliari, Italy
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Siger M, Wydra J, Wildner P, Podyma M, Puzio T, Matera K, Stasiołek M, Świderek-Matysiak M. Differences in Brain Atrophy Pattern between People with Multiple Sclerosis and Systemic Diseases with Central Nervous System Involvement Based on Two-Dimensional Linear Measures. J Clin Med 2024; 13:333. [PMID: 38256467 PMCID: PMC10816254 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13020333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Conventional brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in systemic diseases with central nervous system involvement (SDCNS) may imitate MRI findings of multiple sclerosis (MS). In order to better describe the MRI characteristics of these conditions, in our study we assessed brain volume parameters in MS (n = 58) and SDCNS (n = 41) patients using two-dimensional linear measurements (2DLMs): bicaudate ratio (BCR), corpus callosum index (CCI) and width of third ventricle (W3V). In SDCNS patients, all 2DLMs were affected by age (CCI p = 0.005, BCR p < 0.001, W3V p < 0.001, respectively), whereas in MS patients only BCR and W3V were (p = 0.001 and p = 0.015, respectively). Contrary to SDCNS, in the MS cohort BCR and W3V were associated with T1 lesion volume (T1LV) (p = 0.020, p = 0.009, respectively) and T2 lesion volume (T2LV) (p = 0.015, p = 0.009, respectively). CCI was associated with T1LV in the MS cohort only (p = 0.015). Moreover, BCR was significantly higher in the SDCNS group (p = 0.01) and CCI was significantly lower in MS patients (p = 0.01). The best predictive model to distinguish MS and SDCNS encompassed gender, BCR and T2LV as the explanatory variables (sensitivity 0.91; specificity 0.68; AUC 0.86). Implementation of 2DLMs in the brain MRI analysis of MS and SDCNS patients allowed for the identification of diverse patterns of local brain atrophy in these clinical conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Siger
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Lodz, Kopcinskiego Street 22, 90-414 Lodz, Poland; (M.S.); (P.W.); (M.Ś.-M.)
| | - Jacek Wydra
- Pixel Technology LLC, Piekna 1, 93-558 Lodz, Poland; (J.W.); (M.P.); (T.P.); (K.M.)
| | - Paula Wildner
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Lodz, Kopcinskiego Street 22, 90-414 Lodz, Poland; (M.S.); (P.W.); (M.Ś.-M.)
| | - Marek Podyma
- Pixel Technology LLC, Piekna 1, 93-558 Lodz, Poland; (J.W.); (M.P.); (T.P.); (K.M.)
| | - Tomasz Puzio
- Pixel Technology LLC, Piekna 1, 93-558 Lodz, Poland; (J.W.); (M.P.); (T.P.); (K.M.)
| | - Katarzyna Matera
- Pixel Technology LLC, Piekna 1, 93-558 Lodz, Poland; (J.W.); (M.P.); (T.P.); (K.M.)
| | - Mariusz Stasiołek
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Lodz, Kopcinskiego Street 22, 90-414 Lodz, Poland; (M.S.); (P.W.); (M.Ś.-M.)
| | - Mariola Świderek-Matysiak
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Lodz, Kopcinskiego Street 22, 90-414 Lodz, Poland; (M.S.); (P.W.); (M.Ś.-M.)
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Wang X, Huang L, Guo W, Tang L, Wu A, Wu P, Zhao X, Lin Q, Yu L. Cerebral Microstructural and Microvascular Changes in Non-Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Study Using Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging and 3D Pseudo-Continuous Arterial Spin Labeling. J Inflamm Res 2023; 16:5465-5475. [PMID: 38026250 PMCID: PMC10676653 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s429521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to observe cerebral microstructure and microcirculation features, as well as changes in white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM) among patients with non-neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (non-NPSLE). Methods We compared 36 female patients with non-NPSLE and 20 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HCs) who underwent 3.0T MRI imaging with diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) and 3D pseudo-continuous Arterial Spin Labeling (pCASL). Mean kurtosis (MK), mean kurtosis tensor (MKT), and cerebral blood flow (CBF) values were obtained from 25 brain regions, including WM and GM. We analyzed the correlation between imaging indicators and clinical data. Results When compared with HCs, patients with non-NPSLE had reduced MK and MKT values in regional WM, deep GM, and the left frontal lobe cortical GM, and increased CBF in the right parietal lobe WM and right semioval center (SOC). The MK and MKT values were weakly correlated with CBF in some regions, including WM and GM. Complement 3 (C3) and Complement 4 (C4) showed a weak positive correlation with MK and MKT in some regions, including WM and deep GM, while platelet (PLT) was positively correlated with MKT in the left frontal lobe WM; dsDNA antibody was correlated negatively with MK in the right occipital lobe WM; and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was correlated negatively with CBF in the left SOC. Conclusion Our findings revealed the presence of brain microstructural and microvascular abnormalities in non-NPSLE patients, indicating microstructural damage in the cortical GM, which was less commonly reported. We found DKI and pCASL useful in detecting early brain lesions, and MK was a more sensitive and beneficial indicator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojuan Wang
- Department of Radiology, Longyan First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Longyan, Fujian, 364000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lingling Huang
- Department of Radiology, Longyan First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Longyan, Fujian, 364000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wenbin Guo
- Department of Pathology, Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Area Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350400, People’s Republic of China
| | - Langlang Tang
- Department of Radiology, Longyan First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Longyan, Fujian, 364000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Aiyu Wu
- Department of Rheumatology, Longyan First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Longyan, Fujian, 364000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Peng Wu
- Philips Healthcare, Shanghai, 200000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiance Zhao
- Philips Healthcare, Shanghai, 200000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qi Lin
- Department of Radiology, Longyan First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Longyan, Fujian, 364000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lian Yu
- Department of Rheumatology, Longyan First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Longyan, Fujian, 364000, People’s Republic of China
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Zhang L, Shi Y, Zhang J, Wu J, Jiang W. Cyclophosphamide-induced seizures in a patient with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE): A case report. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1122629. [PMID: 36999036 PMCID: PMC10049787 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1122629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Seizures are life-threatening complications of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) and are often associated with poor outcomes. Cyclophosphamide immunotherapy is the mainstay of NPSLE treatment. We report the unique case of a patient with NPSLE who developed seizures soon after her first and second doses of low-dose cyclophosphamide. The exact pathophysiological mechanism underlying cyclophosphamide-induced seizures is not well understood. However, this unusual drug-associated side effect of cyclophosphamide is thought to be due to the drug’s unique pharmacology. Clinicians should be aware of this complication to make a correct diagnosis and adjust the immunosuppressive regimens very carefully.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingshu Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ying Shi
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Ninth People’s Hospital of Chongqing, Chongqing, China
| | - Jingyao Zhang
- Core Facilities of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Wu
- Internal Medicine Department, Xihua University Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Jiang
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Ninth People’s Hospital of Chongqing, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Wei Jiang,
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Su L, Zhuo Z, Duan Y, Huang J, Qiu X, Li M, Liu Y, Zeng X. Structural and Functional Characterization of Gray Matter Alterations in Female Patients With Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:839194. [PMID: 35585919 PMCID: PMC9108669 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.839194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To investigate morphological and functional alterations within gray matter (GM) in female patients with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus (NPSLE) and to explore their clinical significance. Methods 54 female patients with SLE (30 NPSLE and 24 non-NPSLE) and 32 matched healthy controls were recruited. All subjects received a quantitative MRI scan (FLAIR, 3DT1, resting-state functional MRI). GM volume (GMV), fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF), regional homogeneity (ReHo), and degree of centrality (DC) were obtained. Between-group comparison, clinical correlation, and discrimination of NPSLE from non-NPSLE were achieved by voxel-based analysis, cerebellar seed-based functional connectivity analysis, regression analysis, and support vector machine (SVM), respectively. Results Patients with NPSLE showed overt subcortical GM atrophy without significantly abnormal brain functions in the same region compared with controls. The dysfunction within the left superior temporal gyri (L-STG) was found precede the GM volumetric loss. The function of the nodes in default mode network (DMN) and salience network (SN) were weakened in NPSLE patients compared to controls. The function of the cerebellar posterior lobes was significantly activated in non-NPSLE patients but attenuated along with GM atrophy and presented higher connectivity with L-STG and DMN in NPSLE patients, while the variation of the functional activities in the sensorimotor network (SMN) was the opposite. These structural and functional alterations were mainly correlated with disease burden and anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPLs) (r ranges from -1.53 to 1.29). The ReHos in the bilateral cerebellar posterior lobes showed high discriminative power in identifying patients with NPSLE with accuracy of 87%. Conclusion Patients with NPSLE exhibit both structural and functional alterations in the GM of the brain, which especially involved the deep GM, the cognitive, and sensorimotor regions, reflecting a reorganization to compensate for the disease damage to the brain which was attenuated along with pathologic burden and cerebral vascular risk factors. The GM within the left temporal lobe may be one of the direct targets of lupus-related inflammatory attack. The function of the cerebellar posterior lobes might play an essential role in compensating for cortical functional disturbances and may contribute to identifying patients with suspected NPSLE in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Su
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Rheumatology, National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Zhizheng Zhuo
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yunyun Duan
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Huang
- Department of Radiology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaolu Qiu
- Department of Radiology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Mengtao Li
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Rheumatology, National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Yaou Liu
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaofeng Zeng
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Rheumatology and Clinical Rheumatology, National Clinical Research Center for Dermatologic and Immunologic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaofeng Zeng,
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Cerebral Microstructure Analysis by Diffusion-Based MRI in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Lessons Learned and Research Directions. Brain Sci 2021; 12:brainsci12010070. [PMID: 35053811 PMCID: PMC8773633 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci12010070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Diffusion-based magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies, namely diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI), have been performed in the context of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), either with or without neuropsychiatric (NP) involvement, to deepen cerebral microstructure alterations. These techniques permit the measurement of the variations in random movement of water molecules in tissues, enabling their microarchitecture analysis. While DWI is recommended as part of the initial MRI assessment of SLE patients suspected for NP involvement, DTI is not routinely part of the instrumental evaluation for clinical purposes, and it has been mainly used for research. DWI and DTI studies revealed less restricted movement of water molecules inside cerebral white matter (WM), expression of a global loss of WM density, occurring in the context of SLE, prevalently, but not exclusively, in case of NP involvement. More advanced studies have combined DTI with other quantitative MRI techniques, to further characterize disease pathogenesis, while brain connectomes analysis revealed structural WM network disruption. In this narrative review, the authors provide a summary of the evidence regarding cerebral microstructure analysis by DWI and DTI studies in SLE, focusing on lessons learned and future research perspectives.
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Piao S, Wang R, Qin H, Hu B, Du J, Wu H, Geng D. Alterations of spontaneous brain activity in systematic lupus erythematosus patients without neuropsychiatric symptoms: A resting-functional MRI study. Lupus 2021; 30:1781-1789. [PMID: 34620007 DOI: 10.1177/09612033211033984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To explore the alterations of spontaneous neuronal activity using amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (fALFF), and regional homogeneity (ReHo) in non-NPSLE patients and their relationship with the anxiety and depression statuses. METHODS Twenty-three non-NPSLE patients and 28 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was firstly analyzed by ALFF, fALFF, and ReHo. The relationships between ALFF/fALFF/ReHo values of abnormal regions and anxiety/depression rating scales, including Self-Rating Anxiety (SAS) and Self-Rating Depression (SDS), were also analyzed. RESULTS Compared with HC, non-NPSLE had decreased ALFF values in the bilateral postcentral gyrus, while increased ALFF values in the bilateral inferior temporal gyrus, left putamen, and bilateral precuneus. Non-NPSLE showed reduced fALFF values in the left lingual gyrus, left middle occipital gyrus, right postcentral gyrus, and left superior parietal gyrus, while increased fALFF values were in the left inferior temporal gyrus, right hippocampus, bilateral precuneus, and bilateral superior frontal gyrus. Reduced ReHo values were in the bilateral postcentral gyrus and higher ReHo values were in the left inferior temporal gyrus, left putamen, and bilateral superior frontal gyrus. In the non-NPSLE group, the mean ALFF values of bilateral precuneus were positively correlated with the SAS rating scales (R = 0.5519, p = 0.0176); either were the mean ALFF values of right inferior temporal gyrus and SAS rating scales (R = 0.5380, p = 0.0213). The mean fALFF values of left inferior temporal gyrus were positively correlated with SAS rating scales (R = 0.5700, p = 0.0135). And the mean ReHo values of left putamen were positively correlated with SDS (R = 0.5477, p = 0.0186). CONCLUSION Non-NPSLE exhibited abnormal spontaneous neural activity and coherence in several brain regions mainly associated with cognitive and emotional functions. The ALFF values of bilateral PCUN, the right ITG, the fALFF values of left ITG, and the ReHo values of left PUT may be complementary biomarkers for assessing the psychiatric symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirong Piao
- Department of Radiology, 535039Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Rong Wang
- Department of Radiology, 535039Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Functional and Molecular Medical Imaging, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haihong Qin
- Department of Dermatology, 159397Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin Hu
- Department of Radiology, 535039Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Functional and Molecular Medical Imaging, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Juan Du
- Department of Dermatology, 159397Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Dermatology, 159397Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Daoying Geng
- Department of Radiology, 535039Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Dias-Santos A, Tavares Ferreira J, Pinheiro S, Cunha JP, Alves M, Papoila AL, Moraes-Fontes MF, Proença R. Retinal and choroidal thickness changes in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: a longitudinal study. Eye (Lond) 2021; 35:2771-2780. [PMID: 33235342 PMCID: PMC8452661 DOI: 10.1038/s41433-020-01292-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES To prospectively evaluate changes in peripapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (pRNFL), in all macular layers and in choroidal thickness (CT) in a cohort of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients without ophthalmologic manifestations. To associate those changes with ophthalmic characteristics, disease activity state, medication and systemic comorbidities. SUBJECTS/METHODS Prospective cohort study of 68 previously diagnosed SLE patients. In two study visits (V1 and V2) at least 12 months apart, patients underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination including spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and an autoimmune disease specialist assessment. Automatic retinal segmentation was performed. pRNFL was determined globally and in the six peripapillary sectors and each macular layer thickness was determined in the nine early treatment diabetic retinopathy study (ETDRS) subfields. CT was manually measured at 13 locations in the posterior pole. Only one eye per patient was randomly selected for inclusion. Generalised linear mixed effects models were employed. RESULTS Sixty-five patients completed the study. The median follow-up time was twelve months. At V2, pRNFL was significantly thinner globally (p = 0.006) and in the temporal inferior sector (p = 0.017). Patients under chronic medication with anticoagulants or antihypertensives had significantly thinner pRNFL in some locations. No significant changes were observed in macular layers or choroidal thickness between study visits. CONCLUSIONS SLE patients presented early SD-OCT signs of neurodegeneration, evidenced by a progressive reduction in pRNFL thickness. Regardless of study visit, baseline chronic medication with anticoagulants or antihypertensives was associated with lower pRNFL thickness, accounting for a deleterious effect of cardiovascular risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaldo Dias-Santos
- grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central, Lisbon, Portugal ,grid.421304.0Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital CUF Descobertas, Lisbon, Portugal ,grid.10772.330000000121511713NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Joana Tavares Ferreira
- grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central, Lisbon, Portugal ,grid.421304.0Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital CUF Descobertas, Lisbon, Portugal ,grid.10772.330000000121511713NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sofia Pinheiro
- grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Autoimmune Disease Unit, Unidade de Doenças Auto-imunes/Serviço Medicina 3, Hospital de Santo António dos Capuchos, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João Paulo Cunha
- grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central, Lisbon, Portugal ,grid.10772.330000000121511713NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marta Alves
- grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Epidemiology and Statistics Unit, Research Center, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central, Lisbon, Portugal ,grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263CEAUL (Center of Statistics and its Applications), Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana L. Papoila
- grid.10772.330000000121511713NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal ,grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Epidemiology and Statistics Unit, Research Center, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central, Lisbon, Portugal ,grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263CEAUL (Center of Statistics and its Applications), Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Maria Francisca Moraes-Fontes
- grid.10772.330000000121511713NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal ,grid.9983.b0000 0001 2181 4263Autoimmune Disease Unit, Unidade de Doenças Auto-imunes/Serviço de Medicina 7.2, Hospital Curry Cabral, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central, Lisbon, Portugal ,grid.418346.c0000 0001 2191 3202Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Rui Proença
- grid.28911.330000000106861985Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal ,grid.8051.c0000 0000 9511 4342Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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10
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Ramirez GA, Rocca MA, Preziosa P, Bozzolo EP, Pagani E, Canti V, Moiola L, Rovere-Querini P, Manfredi AA, Filippi M. Quantitative MRI adds to neuropsychiatric lupus diagnostics. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2021; 60:3278-3288. [PMID: 33367829 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaa779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Attributing neuropsychiatric manifestations to SLE is often challenging. Brain white matter lesions are frequent in SLE at MRI, but their diagnostic role is unclear. Here, we assessed whether white matter lesions count, volume and distribution measurement can help in the diagnosis of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE). METHODS Brain dual-echo and 3D T1-weighted sequences were acquired from 32 patients with SLE and 32 healthy controls with a 3 T-scanner and employed to derive T2-hyperintense lesion volume (T2LV), number (T2LN) and probability maps (LPM) using a semi-automatic local thresholding segmentation technique. NPSLE was classified as per the ACR nomenclature, the Italian Society for Rheumatology algorithm and by clinical impression. Clinical descriptors including the SLE International Collaborating Clinics/ACR damage index (SDI) were also recorded. RESULTS Higher T2LV were observed in SLE vs healthy controls (P < 0.001) and in NPSLE vs other SLE (P =0.006). Patients with NPSLE also had higher T2LN (P =0.003) compared with other SLE. In SLE, T2LPM revealed a high prevalence of lesions in the splenium of the corpus callosum, right superior longitudinal fasciculus and right corona radiata. T2LV and T2LN correlated with SLE duration (rho = 0.606; P <0.001 and rho = 0.483; P =0.005, respectively) and age (rho = 0.478; P =0.006 and rho = 0.362; P = 0.042, respectively). T2LV also correlated with SDI (rho = 0.352; P =0.048). SLE patients with fatigue had lower T2LN (P =0.038) compared with patients without fatigue. Thresholds of T2LV ≥ 0.423 cm3 or of T2LN ≥ 12 were associated with definite NPSLE and improved the classification of patients with possible NPSLE per clinical impression. CONCLUSION Brain white matter lesions (WML) quantitation adds to NPSLE diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe A Ramirez
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele.,Unit of Immunology, Rheumatology, Allergy and Rare Diseases.,Division of Immunogy, Transplantation & Infectious Diseases
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Patrizia Rovere-Querini
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele.,Division of Immunogy, Transplantation & Infectious Diseases
| | - Angelo A Manfredi
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele.,Unit of Immunology, Rheumatology, Allergy and Rare Diseases.,Division of Immunogy, Transplantation & Infectious Diseases
| | - Massimo Filippi
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele.,Neuroimaging Research Unit.,Neurology Unit.,Neurophysiology Unit, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
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11
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Silvagni E, Inglese F, Bortoluzzi A, Borrelli M, Goeman JJ, Revenaz A, Groppo E, Steup-Beekman GM, Huizinga TWJ, Ronen I, de Bresser J, Fainardi E, Govoni M, Ercan E. Longitudinal changes in cerebral white matter microstructure in newly diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus patients. Rheumatology (Oxford) 2021; 60:2678-2687. [PMID: 33507240 PMCID: PMC8213425 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaa677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate longitudinal variations in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) metrics of different white matter (WM) tracts of newly diagnosed SLE patients, and to assess whether DTI changes relate to changes in clinical characteristics over time. METHODS A total of 17 newly diagnosed SLE patients (19-55 years) were assessed within 24 months from diagnosis with brain MRI (1.5 T Philips Achieva) at baseline, and after at least 12 months. Fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity (MD), radial diffusivity (RD) and axial diffusivity values were calculated in several normal-appearing WM tracts. Longitudinal variations in DTI metrics were analysed by repeated measures analysis of variance. DTI changes were separately assessed for 21 WM tracts. Associations between longitudinal alterations of DTI metrics and clinical variables (SLEDAI-2K, complement levels, glucocorticoid dosage) were evaluated using adjusted Spearman correlation analysis. RESULTS Mean MD and RD values from the normal-appearing WM significantly increased over time (P = 0.019 and P = 0.021, respectively). A significant increase in RD (P = 0.005) and MD (P = 0.012) was found in the left posterior limb of the internal capsule; RD significantly increased in the left retro-lenticular part of the internal capsule (P = 0.013), and fractional anisotropy significantly decreased in the left corticospinal tract (P = 0.029). No significant correlation was found between the longitudinal change in DTI metrics and the change in clinical measures. CONCLUSION Increase in diffusivity, reflecting a compromised WM tissue microstructure, starts in initial phases of the SLE disease course, even in the absence of overt neuropsychiatric (NP) symptoms. These results indicate the importance of monitoring NP involvement in SLE, even shortly after diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ettore Silvagni
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara and Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Anna, Cona (Ferrara), Italy
| | - Francesca Inglese
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Alessandra Bortoluzzi
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara and Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Anna, Cona (Ferrara), Italy
| | - Massimo Borrelli
- Neuroradiology Unit, Department of Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Sant'Anna, Cona (Ferrara), Italy
| | - Jelle J Goeman
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Alfredo Revenaz
- Neuroradiology Unit, Department of Radiology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Sant'Anna, Cona (Ferrara), Italy
| | | | - Gerda M Steup-Beekman
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Tom W J Huizinga
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Itamar Ronen
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jeroen de Bresser
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Enrico Fainardi
- Neuroradiology Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Marcello Govoni
- Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara and Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria S. Anna, Cona (Ferrara), Italy
| | - Ece Ercan
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
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12
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Neuroimaging findings in rheumatologic disorders. J Neurol Sci 2021; 427:117531. [PMID: 34130065 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2021.117531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Patients with rheumatological diseases may present with neurological manifestations of peripheral and/or central nervous system (CNS). Symptoms may be related to underlying rheumatological disease or CNS effects of immune-modulating drugs. Early diagnosis and therapy may help prevent serious complications. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), given its excellent soft tissue details, is the preferred imaging modality when evaluating patients with rheumatological disease and suspected CNS involvement. We present a review of the neuroimaging manifestations of various rheumatic diseases with emphasis on the imaging findings on MRI.
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13
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Chen L, Sun J, Wang Q, Hu L, Zhang Y, Ma H, Jia X, Yang X. Altered Temporal Dynamics of Brain Activity in Multiple-Frequency Bands in Non-Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients with Inactive Disease. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2021; 17:1385-1395. [PMID: 33994788 PMCID: PMC8113012 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s292302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE In this study, we seek to investigate dynamic changes of brain activity in non-neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (non-NPSLE) patients with inactive disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty-one non-NPSLE patients with inactive disease and 20 matched healthy controls underwent the blood oxygenation level-dependent fMRI examination. Dynamic regional homogeneity (ReHo) and fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) were used to analyze the brain activity in typical band (0.01-0.08 Hz), slow-4 (0.027-0.073 Hz) and slow-5 (0.01-0.027 Hz). Pearson's correlation analysis was performed to correlate dynamic regional homogeneity (dReHo) and dynamic fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (dfALFF) values for clusters of voxels where significant group differences were found with clinical variables in non-NPSLE patients with inactive disease. RESULTS In typical band, non-NPSLE patients showed increased dReHo in left middle occipital gyrus (MOG) compared to healthy controls. Meanwhile, patients showed decreased dfALFF in right superior frontal gyrus (SFG) and bilateral middle frontal gyrus (MFG) in typical band. In slow-4, increased dReHo in left MOG was found in non-NPSLE patients. In slow-5, non-NPSLE patients showed increased dReHo in left MOG, left calcarine fissure and surrounding cortex, right precentral gyrus (PreCG) and left postcentral gyrus (PoCG). Meanwhile, non-NPSLE patients showed decreased dfALFF in left SFG, right MFG, and right PreCG in slow-5. Moreover, the glucocorticoid dose showed significantly negative correlations with dReHo values in right PreCG in slow-5, left PoCG in slow-5, and left MOG in typical band. CONCLUSION dReHo and dfALFF abnormalities in different frequency bands may be the key characteristics in the pathogenesis mechanism of non-NPSLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liheng Chen
- Department of Rheumatology, Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiawei Sun
- School of Information and Electronics Technology, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, People’s Republic of China
- Integrated Medical Research School, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qiaohong Wang
- Department of Rheumatology, Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lingzhen Hu
- Department of Rheumatology, Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Rheumatology, Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huibin Ma
- School of Information and Electronics Technology, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, People’s Republic of China
- Integrated Medical Research School, Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xize Jia
- Institute of Psychological Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Research in Assessment of Cognitive Impairments, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xuyan Yang
- Department of Rheumatology, Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310009, People’s Republic of China
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14
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Structural Changes on MRI Demonstrate Specific Cerebellar Involvement in SLE Patients-A VBM Study. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11040510. [PMID: 33923703 PMCID: PMC8072619 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11040510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
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.
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15
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The neurology of lupus. J Neurol Sci 2021; 424:117419. [PMID: 33832774 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2021.117419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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16
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Govoni M, Hanly JG. The management of neuropsychiatric lupus in the 21st century: still so many unmet needs? Rheumatology (Oxford) 2021; 59:v52-v62. [PMID: 33280014 PMCID: PMC7719041 DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keaa404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric (NP) events occur in the majority of patients with SLE and predominantly affect the CNS in addition to the peripheral and autonomic systems. Approximately 30% of all NP events are attributable to SLE (NPSLE) and present most frequently around the time of SLE onset. NPSLE is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and the proposed pathogenesis includes both ischaemic and neuroinflammatory mechanisms. Following diagnosis and causal attribution, the treatment of NPSLE is tailored to the type of NP event, the predominant putative pathogenic pathway and the activity and severity of the clinical event. There is a dearth of controlled clinical trials to guide management, but therapeutic options include symptomatic, antithrombotic and immunosuppressive agents that are supported by observational cohort studies. Our objective was to review what is currently known about NPSLE and to identify deficiencies in diagnostic biomarkers, novel therapies and clinical trials for this manifestation of SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Govoni
- Rheumatology Unit, S. Anna Hospital - Ferrara (loc. Cona), Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - John G Hanly
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine and Department of Pathology, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Center and Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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17
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González LA, Ugarte-Gil MF, Alarcón GS. Systemic lupus erythematosus: The search for the ideal biomarker. Lupus 2020; 30:181-203. [PMID: 33307987 DOI: 10.1177/0961203320979051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
During the last decades, there has been an increased interest in the discovery and validation of biomarkers that reliably reflect specific aspects of lupus. Although many biomarkers have been developed, few of them have been validated and used in clinical practice, but with unsatisfactory performances. Thus, there is still a need to rigorously validate many of these novel promising biomarkers in large-scale longitudinal studies and also identify better biomarkers not only for lupus diagnosis but also for monitoring and predicting upcoming flares and response to treatment. Besides serological biomarkers, urinary and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers have emerged for assessing both renal and central nervous system involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus, respectively. Also, novel omics techniques help us to understand the molecular basis of the disease and also allow the identification of novel biomarkers which may be potentially useful for guiding new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Alonso González
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Universidad de Antioquia, Hospital Universitario de San Vicente Fundación, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Manuel Francisco Ugarte-Gil
- Rheumatology Department, Hospital Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen, EsSalud, Lima, Perú.,School of Medicine, Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Perú
| | - Graciela S Alarcón
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.,Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Perú
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18
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Advances in the diagnosis, pathogenesis and treatment of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus. Curr Opin Rheumatol 2020; 32:152-158. [PMID: 31895125 DOI: 10.1097/bor.0000000000000682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Diagnosing and treating neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) remains challenging as the pathogenesis is still being debated. In this review, we discuss studies evaluating recent advances in diagnostic methods, pathogenic mediators and potential treatments. RECENT FINDINGS Screening tools used for neurodegenerative diseases were found to be both sensitive and moderately specific for cognitive dysfunction in NPSLE. Neuroimaging can be used to distinguish systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients from healthy controls, but further refinement is needed to differentiate between lupus patients with and without neuropsychiatric manifestations. Elevated levels of specific molecules in the cerebrospinal fluid and/or serum, as well as the presence of certain autoantibodies, have been identified as potential biomarkers in attempts to facilitate a more accurate and objective diagnosis. Among such autoantibodies, anti-NR2 and anti-ribosomal P autoantibodies also have a pathogenic role, although newer studies demonstrate that blood-brain barrier damage may not always be required as previously believed. These and other observations, together with new evidence for disease attenuation after microglial modulation, suggest direct involvement of the central nervous system in NPSLE pathogenesis. SUMMARY Neuropsychiatric involvement of SLE includes a variety of symptoms that impact quality of life and patient prognosis. There have been recent advances in improving the diagnosis of NPSLE as well as in dissecting the underlying pathogenesis. The attenuation of neuropsychiatric disease in mouse models demonstrates the potential for targeted therapies, which are based on a clearer understanding of the pathogenesis of NPSLE. Further assessment of these treatments is required in NPSLE patients, as well as the potential use of neuroimaging to distinguish between SLE patients with or without neuropsychiatric manifestations.
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19
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Sarbu MI, Sarbu N. Fulminant Brain Atrophy and Vasculitis on Vessel-Wall Imaging in Neuropsychiatric Lupus: Case Report and Literature Review. Arch Rheumatol 2020; 35:443-448. [PMID: 33458670 PMCID: PMC7788661 DOI: 10.46497/archrheumatol.2020.7544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain atrophy, typically slowly progressive, is a hallmark of neuropsychiatric (NP) systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this article, we report a case of a young female patient with previously diagnosed SLE, without known NPSLE, with abrupt neurological deterioration and rapidly progressive diffuse atrophy in a few months. A comprehensive diagnostic work-up and follow-up magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including high-resolution advanced vessel-wall sequences, revealed underlying cerebral vasculitis. The novelty factors that the present report brings are the rapid progressive atrophy demonstrated on follow-up MRI in a patient with SLE, and the depiction of an underlying vasculitis on specific vessel-wall MRI techniques. We also reviewed the literature and discussed the main current applications of vessel-wall MRI sequences. The aim of the report is to recognize this dramatic form of presentation of NPSLE and the utility of the new MRI techniques for the diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihaela Ionela Sarbu
- Saint Pierre University Hospital; Erasme Hospital, Rheumatology, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nicolae Sarbu
- Department of Neuroradiology, Erasme Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Neuroradiology, Faculty of Medicine, "Dunarea de Jos" University, Galati, Romania
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20
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Hanly JG, Kozora E, Beyea SD, Birnbaum J. Review: Nervous System Disease in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Current Status and Future Directions. Arthritis Rheumatol 2018; 71:33-42. [PMID: 29927108 DOI: 10.1002/art.40591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The American College of Rheumatology's case definitions for 19 neuropsychiatric syndromes in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) constitute a comprehensive classification of nervous system events in this disease. However, additional strategies are needed to determine whether a neuropsychiatric syndrome is attributable to SLE versus a competing comorbidity. Cognitive function is a clinical surrogate of overall brain health, with applications in both diagnosis and determination of clinical outcomes. Ischemic and inflammatory mechanisms are both key components of the immunopathogenesis of neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE), including abnormalities of the blood-brain barrier and autoantibody-mediated production of proinflammatory cytokines. Advances in neuroimaging provide a platform to assess novel disease mechanisms in a noninvasive way. The convergence of more rigorous clinical characterization, validation of biomarkers, and brain neuroimaging provides opportunities to determine the efficacy of novel targeted therapies in the treatment of NPSLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- John G Hanly
- Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre and Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Kozora
- National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado, and University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora
| | - Steven D Beyea
- Dalhousie University, Biomedical Translational Imaging Centre, Izaak Walton Killam Health Centre and Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Julius Birnbaum
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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21
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Bendorius M, Po C, Muller S, Jeltsch-David H. From Systemic Inflammation to Neuroinflammation: The Case of Neurolupus. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:E3588. [PMID: 30428632 PMCID: PMC6274746 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19113588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Revised: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
It took decades to arrive at the general consensus dismissing the notion that the immune system is independent of the central nervous system. In the case of uncontrolled systemic inflammation, the relationship between the two systems is thrown off balance and results in cognitive and emotional impairment. It is specifically true for autoimmune pathologies where the central nervous system is affected as a result of systemic inflammation. Along with boosting circulating cytokine levels, systemic inflammation can lead to aberrant brain-resident immune cell activation, leakage of the blood⁻brain barrier, and the production of circulating antibodies that cross-react with brain antigens. One of the most disabling autoimmune pathologies known to have an effect on the central nervous system secondary to the systemic disease is systemic lupus erythematosus. Its neuropsychiatric expression has been extensively studied in lupus-like disease murine models that develop an autoimmunity-associated behavioral syndrome. These models are very useful for studying how the peripheral immune system and systemic inflammation can influence brain functions. In this review, we summarize the experimental data reported on murine models developing autoimmune diseases and systemic inflammation, and we explore the underlying mechanisms explaining how systemic inflammation can result in behavioral deficits, with a special focus on in vivo neuroimaging techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mykolas Bendorius
- UMR 7242 Biotechnologie et Signalisation Cellulaire, École Supérieure de Biotechnologie de Strasbourg (ESBS), Laboratoire d'Excellence Médalis, Université de Strasbourg/CNRS, 67412 Illkirch, France.
| | - Chrystelle Po
- ICube UMR 7357, Université de Strasbourg/CNRS, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France.
| | - Sylviane Muller
- UMR 7242 Biotechnologie et Signalisation Cellulaire, École Supérieure de Biotechnologie de Strasbourg (ESBS), Laboratoire d'Excellence Médalis, Université de Strasbourg/CNRS, 67412 Illkirch, France.
- University of Strasbourg Institute for Advanced Study (USIAS), 67000 Strasbourg, France.
| | - Hélène Jeltsch-David
- UMR 7242 Biotechnologie et Signalisation Cellulaire, École Supérieure de Biotechnologie de Strasbourg (ESBS), Laboratoire d'Excellence Médalis, Université de Strasbourg/CNRS, 67412 Illkirch, France.
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22
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Yeoh H, Lee JY, Lee YJ, Park DW, Kim TY, Ahn GY, Bae SC, Kim YS, Kim HY, Kim CK, Kim JY, Kim H, Han JW. Relationship between cerebral microbleeds and white matter MR hyperintensities in systemic lupus erythematosus: a retrospective observational study. Neuroradiology 2018; 61:265-274. [PMID: 30415319 DOI: 10.1007/s00234-018-2130-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE White matter hyperintensities (WMH) and cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) are known to be associated with small vessel diseases (SVD) and neuroinflammation. The purpose was to investigate the relationship between CMBs and WMH in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS Thirty-one SLE patients with WMH and 27 SLE patients with normal brain MRI were compared. The presence, location, and grading of CMBs were assessed using susceptibility-weighted images. WMH volume was quantitatively measured. Clinical characteristics and serologic markers were compared. We also performed two separate subgroup analyses after (1) dividing WMH into inflammatory lesion vs. SVD subgroups and (2) dividing WMH into those with vs. without CMB subgroups. RESULTS The WMH group showed more frequent CMBs than the normal MR group (p < 0.001). The WMH group showed higher SLE disease activity index, longer disease duration, and a higher incidence of antiphospholipid syndrome than the normal MR group (p = 0.02, 0.04, and 0.04, respectively). There was a moderate correlation between WMH volume and CMB grading (r = 0.49, p = 0.006). Within the WMH group, the inflammatory lesion subgroup showed more frequent CMBs and larger WMH volume than the SVD subgroup (p < 0.001 and 0.02, respectively). The WMH with CMB subgroup had larger WMH volume than the WMH without CMB subgroup (p = 0.004). CONCLUSION In patients with SLE, CMBs could be related to large-volume WMH and inflammatory lesions. CMBs along with severe WMH could be used as an imaging biomarker of vasculitis in patients with SLE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunjung Yeoh
- Department of Radiology, Hanyang University Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, 17 Haengdang-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 133-792, South Korea
| | - Ji Young Lee
- Department of Radiology, Hanyang University Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, 17 Haengdang-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 133-792, South Korea.
| | - Young-Jun Lee
- Department of Radiology, Hanyang University Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, 17 Haengdang-dong, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 133-792, South Korea
| | - Dong Woo Park
- Department of Radiology, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Guri, South Korea
| | - Tae Yoon Kim
- Department of Radiology, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Guri, South Korea
| | - Ga Young Ahn
- Department of Rheumatology, Hanyang University Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sang-Cheol Bae
- Department of Rheumatology, Hanyang University Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Young Seo Kim
- Department of Neurology, Hanyang University Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hyun Young Kim
- Department of Neurology, Hanyang University Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Chun K Kim
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hanyang University Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ji Young Kim
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Guri, South Korea
| | - Haejin Kim
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Won Han
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
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23
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Kozora E, Filley CM, Erkan D, Uluğ AM, Vo A, Ramon G, Burleson A, Zimmerman RD, Lockshin MD. Longitudinal evaluation of diffusion tensor imaging and cognition in systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus 2018; 27:1810-1818. [DOI: 10.1177/0961203318793215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Objective This pilot study aimed to examine longitudinal changes in brain structure and function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and neuropsychological testing. Methods Fifteen female SLE patients with no history of major neuropsychiatric (NP) manifestations had brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with DTI at baseline and approximately 1.5 years later. At the same time points, a standardized battery of cognitive tests yielding a global cognitive impairment index (CII) was administered. At baseline, the SLE patients had mean age of 34.0 years (SD = 11.4), mean education of 14.9 years (SD = 2.1), and mean disease duration of 121.5 months (SD = 106.5). The MRI images were acquired with a 3T GE MRI scanner. A DTI sequence with 33 diffusion directions and b-value of 800 s/mm2 was used. Image acquisition time was about 10 minutes. Results No significant change in cognitive dysfunction (from the CII) was detected. Clinically evaluated MRI scans remained essentially unchanged, with 62% considered normal at both times, and the remainder showing white matter (WM) hyperintensities that remained stable or resolved. DTI showed decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) and increased mean diffusivity (MD) in bilateral cerebral WM and gray matter (GM) with no major change in NP status, medical symptoms, or medications over time. Lower FA was found in the following regions: left and right cerebral WM, and in GM areas including the parahippocampal gyrus, thalamus, precentral gyrus, postcentral gyrus, angular gyrus, parietal lobe, and cerebellum. Greater MD was found in the following regions: left and right cerebral WM, frontal cortex, left cerebral cortex, and the putamen. Conclusions This is the first longitudinal study of DTI and cognition in SLE, and results disclosed changes in both WM and GM without cognitive decline over an 18-month period. DTI abnormalities in our participants were not associated with emergent NP activity, medical decline, or medication changes, and the microstructural changes developed in the absence of macrostructural abnormalities on standard MRI. Microstructural changes may relate to ongoing inflammation, and the stability of cognitive function may be explained by medical treatment, the variability of NP progression in SLE, or the impact of cognitive reserve.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Kozora
- Department of Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
- Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA
- Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - C M Filley
- Department of Neurology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
- Marcus Institute for Brain Health, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - D Erkan
- Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA
- Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - A M Uluğ
- CorTechs Labs, San Diego, CA, USA
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Boğaziçi University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - A Vo
- The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA
| | - G Ramon
- Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA
| | - A Burleson
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | | | - M D Lockshin
- Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY, USA
- Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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24
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Zardi EM, Giorgi C, Zardi DM. Diagnostic approach to neuropsychiatric lupus erythematosus: what should we do? Postgrad Med 2018; 130:536-547. [PMID: 29940795 DOI: 10.1080/00325481.2018.1492309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus is a diagnostic challenge due to the multifarious neurological and psychiatric manifestations that define it but, when suspected, diagnostic imaging can give a fundamental help. The advancements and variety of neuroimaging techniques allow us to perform more and more accurate evaluations of structure, perfusion, and metabolism of the brain and to detect cerebral and spinal lesions. Moreover, vascular districts of the neck and the brain, as well as the electrical brain and peripheral muscle activity may be accurately investigated, thus giving us a wide panoramic view. Although magnetic resonance is recognized as a fundamental neuroimaging technique to reach a correct diagnosis, the juxtaposition of other diagnostic techniques has improved the possibility to make diagnoses but has also increased the confusion about deciding which of them to use and when. Our aim was to combine the number of available techniques with the need to simplify the diagnostic path. Therefore, through the construction of an algorithm from an evidence based approach, we believe we are providing some added improvements to facilitate and expedite the diagnosis of NPSLE.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chiara Giorgi
- b Radiology Department , S Maria della Misericordia Hospital , Urbino , Italy
| | - Domenico Maria Zardi
- c Division of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology , University of Rome "Sapienza", Sant'Andrea Hospital , Rome , Italy
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25
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Kalinowska-Lyszczarz A, Pawlak MA, Pietrzak A, Pawlak-Bus K, Leszczynski P, Puszczewicz M, Paprzycki W, Kozubski W, Michalak S. Distinct regional brain atrophy pattern in multiple sclerosis and neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus patients. Lupus 2018; 27:1624-1635. [PMID: 29950159 DOI: 10.1177/0961203318781004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Differentiation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) from multiple sclerosis (MS) can be challenging, especially when neuropsychiatric (NP) symptoms are accompanied by white matter lesions in the brain. Given the lack of discriminative power of currently applied tools for their differentiation, there is an unmet need for other measures that can aid in distinguishing between the two autoimmune disorders. In this study we aimed at exploring whether brain atrophy measures could serve as markers differentiating MS and SLE. Thirty-seven relapsing-remitting MS and 38 SLE patients with nervous system manifestations, matched according to age and disease duration, underwent 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including volumetric sequences, and clinical assessment. Voxelwise analysis was performed using ANTS-SyN elastic registration protocol, FSL Randomise and Gamma methods. Cortical and subcortical segmentation was performed with Freesurfer 5.3 pipeline using T1-weighted MPRAGE sequence data. Using MRI volumetric markers of general and subcortical gray matter atrophy and clinical variables, we built a stepwise multivariable logistic diagnostic model to identify MRI parameters that best differentiate MS and SLE patients. We found that the best volumetric predictors to distinguish them were: fourth ventricle volume (sensitivity 0.86, specificity 0.57, area under the curve, AUC 0.77), posterior corpus callosum (sensitivity 0.81, specificity 0.57, AUC 0.68), and third ventricle to thalamus ratio (sensitivity 0.42, specificity 0.84, AUC 0.65). The same classifiers were identified in a subgroup analysis that included patients with a short disease duration. In MS brain atrophy and lesion load correlated with clinical disability, while in SLE age was the main determinant of brain volume. This study proposes new imaging parameters for differential diagnosis of MS and SLE with central nervous system involvement. We show there is a different pattern of atrophy in MS and SLE, and the key structural volumes that are differentially affected include fourth ventricle and posterior section of corpus callosum, followed by third ventricle to thalamus ratio. Different correlation patterns between volumetric and clinical data may suggest that while in MS atrophy is driven mainly by disease activity, in SLE it is mostly associated with age. However, these results need further replication in a larger cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Kalinowska-Lyszczarz
- 1 Division of Neurochemistry and Neuropathology, Department of Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - M A Pawlak
- 2 Department of Neurology and Cerebrovascular Disorders, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - A Pietrzak
- 3 Department of Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - K Pawlak-Bus
- 4 Department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - P Leszczynski
- 4 Department of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - M Puszczewicz
- 5 Department of Rheumatology and Internal Diseases, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - W Paprzycki
- 6 Department of Neuroradiology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - W Kozubski
- 3 Department of Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - S Michalak
- 1 Division of Neurochemistry and Neuropathology, Department of Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
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26
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Dias-Santos A, Proença RP, Tavares Ferreira J, Pinheiro S, Cunha JP, Proença R, Moraes-Fontes MF. The role of ophthalmic imaging in central nervous system degeneration in systemic lupus erythematosus. Autoimmun Rev 2018; 17:617-624. [PMID: 29635076 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2018.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune connective tissue disorder that can involve any organ system. Central nervous system involvement can be a severe life threatening complication, ultimately resulting in severe neurodegenerative changes. Magnetic resonance imaging suggests that neurodegeneration, which may have deleterious effects on brain function, may occur early in SLE and experimental models suggest that neuroprotection may be feasible and beneficial. The retina is an extension of the brain. Recent ophthalmic imaging technologies are capable of identifying early changes in retinal and choroidal morphology and circulation that may reflect CNS degeneration. However, their utility in monitoring CNS involvement in SLE has been poorly studied as these have only been performed in small cohorts, in a cross-sectional design, non-quantitatively and without correlation to disease activity. The authors aim to review the current understanding of neurodegeneration associated with SLE, with particular focus on the visual pathway. We describe the neuropathology of the visual system in SLE and the evidence for retinal and choroidal neurodegenerative and microvascular changes using optical coherence tomography technology. We aim to describe the potential role of optical imaging modalities in NPSLE diagnosis and their likely impact on the study of neuronal function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arnaldo Dias-Santos
- Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central, Lisbon, Portugal; Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital CUF Descobertas, Lisbon, Portugal; NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
| | - Rita Pinto Proença
- Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Joana Tavares Ferreira
- Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central, Lisbon, Portugal; Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital CUF Descobertas, Lisbon, Portugal; NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sofia Pinheiro
- Autoimmune Disease Unit, Unidade de Doenças Auto-imunes/Serviço Medicina 3, Hospital de Santo António dos Capuchos, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - João Paulo Cunha
- Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central, Lisbon, Portugal; NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Rui Proença
- Department of Ophthalmology, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria Francisca Moraes-Fontes
- NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal; Autoimmune Disease Unit, Unidade de Doenças Auto-imunes/Serviço de Medicina 7.2, Hospital Curry Cabral, Centro Hospitalar de Lisboa Central, Lisbon, Portugal; Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal
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27
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Wu BB, Ma Y, Xie L, Huang JZ, Sun ZB, Hou ZD, Guo RW, Lin ZR, Duan SX, Zhao SS, Yao-Xie, Sun DM, Zhu CM, Ma SH. Impaired decision-making and functional neuronal network activity in systemic lupus erythematosus. J Magn Reson Imaging 2018. [PMID: 29537670 PMCID: PMC6282848 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.26006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with cognitive deficit but the exact neural mechanisms remain unclear. Purpose To explore sequential brain activities using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during the performance of a decision‐making task, and to determine whether serum or clinical markers can reflect the involvement of the brain in SLE. Subjects Sixteen female SLE patients without overt clinical neuropsychiatric symptoms and 16 healthy controls were included. Field Strength/Sequence 1.5T, T1‐weighted anatomic images, gradient‐echo echo‐planar imaging sequence, and 3D images. Assessment The computer‐based Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) for assessing decision‐making was performed by SLE patients and 16 matched controls; brain activity was recorded via blood oxygen level‐dependent (BOLD) fMRI. The amplitudes of the average BOLD responses were calculated for each individual subject, and activation data from fMRI experiments were compared between the two groups. Statistical Tests Two‐sample t‐test; repeated‐measures analysis of variance (ANOVA); linear regression analyses. Results Imaging revealed activity in a distributed network of brain regions in both groups, including the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC), the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), and the striatum, as well as the insular, parietal, and occipital cortices. Compared to controls, SLE patients showed lower activation in a convergence zone and the limbic system, namely, the OFC, vmPFC, ACC, and PCC, but greater activation in memory, emotion, and behavior systems involving the dlPFC, the insular cortex and the striatum. Furthermore, brain activation in the vmPFC was positively correlated with IGT scores (r = 0.63, P < 0.001), but inversely related to disease activity (r = −0.57, P < 0.01). Data Conclusion The dynamics among the aforementioned neural systems (some hyperfunctioning, others hypofunctioning) may shed some light on the pathologic mechanisms underlying SLE without overt clinical neuropsychiatric symptoms. In addition, disease activity may potentially be used as an effective biomarker reflecting cerebral involvement in SLE. Level of Evidence: 1 Technical Efficacy: Stage 3 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;48:1508–1517
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Affiliation(s)
- Bei-Bei Wu
- First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.,Guang dong Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, Shantou, China
| | - Ye Ma
- Department of Linguistics & Languages, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Lei Xie
- First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.,Guang dong Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, Shantou, China
| | - Jin-Zhuang Huang
- First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.,Guang dong Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, Shantou, China
| | - Zong-Bo Sun
- First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.,Guang dong Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, Shantou, China
| | - Zhi-Duo Hou
- First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Rui-Wei Guo
- First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.,Guang dong Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, Shantou, China
| | - Zhi-Rong Lin
- First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Shou-Xing Duan
- First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.,Guang dong Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, Shantou, China
| | - Shan-Shan Zhao
- First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.,Guang dong Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, Shantou, China
| | - Yao-Xie
- First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.,Guang dong Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, Shantou, China
| | - Dan-Miao Sun
- First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.,Guang dong Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, Shantou, China
| | - Chun-Min Zhu
- First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.,Guang dong Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, Shantou, China
| | - Shu-Hua Ma
- First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.,Guang dong Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Imaging, Shantou, China
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28
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Altered white matter microstructure in lupus patients: a diffusion tensor imaging study. Arthritis Res Ther 2018; 20:21. [PMID: 29415762 PMCID: PMC5803933 DOI: 10.1186/s13075-018-1516-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to investigate whether white matter microstructure is altered in patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and if so, whether such alterations differed between patients with and without neuropsychiatric symptoms. METHODS Structural MRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) were performed in 64 female SLE patients (mean age 36.9 years, range 18.2-52.2 years) and 21 healthy controls (mean age 36.7 years, range 23.3-51.2 years) in conjunction with clinical examination, laboratory tests, cognitive evaluation, and self-assessment questionnaires. The patients were subgrouped according to the American College of Rheumatology Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus case definitions into non-neuropsychiatric SLE (nonNPSLE) and neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE). RESULTS Comparisons between the SLE group and healthy controls showed that the mean fractional anisotropy (FA) was significantly reduced in the right rostral cingulum (p = 0.038), the mid-sagittal corpus callosum (CC) (p = 0.050), and the forceps minor of the CC (p = 0.015). The mean diffusivity (MD) was significantly increased in the left hippocampal cingulum (p = 0.017). No significant differences in MD or FA values were identified between NPSLE and nonNPSLE patients. Disease duration among all SLE patients correlated significantly with reduced FA in the CC (p < 0.05). No correlations were found between DTI parameters and white matter hyperintensities, SLE Disease Activity Index-2000, Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinical/ACR Organ Damage Index, or Montgomery Asberg Depression Rate Score Self-report. CONCLUSIONS We found alterations of white matter microstructure in SLE patients that were related to disease duration and fatigue. Our results indicate that cerebral involvement in SLE is not isolated to the NPSLE subgroup.
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Costallat BL, Ferreira DM, Lapa AT, Rittner L, Costallat LTL, Appenzeller S. Brain diffusion tensor MRI in systematic lupus erythematosus: A systematic review. Autoimmun Rev 2018; 17:36-43. [DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2017.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/24/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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