Neurocognitive Impairment in Corticosteroid-naive Patients with Active Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Prospective Study

2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 441-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katsuji Nishimura ◽  
Masako Omori ◽  
Yasuhiro Katsumata ◽  
Eri Sato ◽  
Takahisa Gono ◽  
...  

Objective.Neurocognitive impairment (NCI) has been intensively studied in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, those studies have mostly included patients who were treated with corticosteroids, which may itself induce NCI. We investigated NCI in corticosteroid-naive people with SLE who did not exhibit any overt neuropsychiatric manifestations.Methods.Forty-three inpatients with SLE who had no current or past neuropsychiatric history participated in the study. Patients and 30 healthy control subjects with similar demographic characteristics were given a 1-h battery of neuropsychological tests. NCI was defined as scores at least 2 SD below the mean of the healthy control group on at least 2 of the 7 neurocognitive domains. Results of clinical, laboratory, and neurologic tests were compared regarding the presence of NCI.Results.NCI was identified in 12 patients (27.9%) with SLE and in 2 control subjects (6.7%). Patients with SLE showed a significant impairment compared with controls on tasks assessing immediate recall, complex attention/executive function, and psychomotor speed. We identified psychomotor speed (Digit Symbol Substitution Test) as the factor that best differentiated the 2 groups. Further, we identified the score of the SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 as an independent risk factor for NCI in patients with SLE.Conclusion.We conclude that reduced psychomotor speed is an SLE-specific pattern of NCI. Verbal-memory deficits that have been reported in patients with SLE were not evident among patients who were corticosteroid-naive. Our results indicate that impaired psychomotor speed may be added to the symptoms of early SLE.

Lupus ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-190
Author(s):  
W Batista Cicarini ◽  
R C Figueiredo Duarte ◽  
K Silvestre Ferreira ◽  
C de Mello Gomes Loures ◽  
R Vargas Consoli ◽  
...  

We have explored the relationship between possible hemostatic changes and clinical manifestation of the systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as a function of greater or lesser disease activity according to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index-2000 (SLEDAI-2K) criteria. Endothelial injury and hypercoagulability were investigated in patients with SLE by measuring thrombomodulin (TM), D-dimer (DDi) and thrombin generation (TG) potential. A total of 90 participants were distributed into three groups: 1) women with SLE presenting with low disease activity (laSLE) (SLEDAI-2K ≤ 4), 2) women with SLE presenting with moderate to high disease activity (mhaSLE) (SLEDAI-2K > 4), and 3) a control group comprising healthy women. Levels of TM and DDi were higher both in the laSLE and mhaSLE groups compared to controls and in mhaSLE compared to the laSLE group. With respect to TG assay, lagtime and endogen thrombin potential, low concentrations of tissue factor provided the best results for discrimination among groups. Analysis of these data allow us to conclude that TM, DDi and TG are potentially useful markers for discriminating patients with very active from those with lower active disease. Higher SLE activity may cause endothelial injury, resulting in higher TG and consequently a hypercoagulability state underlying the picture of thrombosis common in this inflammatory disease.


2002 ◽  
Vol 90 (3_part_2) ◽  
pp. 1091-1096 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant L. Iverson

Accurate identification of depression in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is particularly complicated because the vegetative symptoms of depression also reflect core features of this autoimmune disease. Self-reported symptoms in patients with SLE ( n = 103) and community control subjects ( n = 136) were examined with the British Columbia Major Depression Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory-II. The patients with lupus obtained higher scores on most items of the former inventory. A logistic regression analysis assessed whether a subset of these items were uniquely related to group membership. Clinically significant fatigue was much more common in patients with lupus than in the control group. Two items relating to sleep disturbance also entered the equation as unique predictors. The three-variable model resulted in 85% of the control subjects and 66% of the patients being correctly classified. A subset of patients with depression, according to the Beck inventory (17 or higher), were selected ( n = 41). Their most frequently endorsed symptoms on the British Columbia Inventory were fatigue (90.2%), trouble falling asleep (70.7%), cognitive difficulty (61%), and psychomotor slowing (58.5%). Only 29.3% reported significant sadness. 15% of these subjects were classified as not depressed, 46% as possibly depressed, and 39% as probably depressed on the British Columbia Inventory. It is advisable to assess whether patients are experiencing significant sadness or loss of interest before concluding that a high score on a screening test corresponds to probable depression.


2002 ◽  
Vol 90 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1091-1096 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant L. Iverson

Accurate identification of depression in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is particularly complicated because the vegetative symptoms of depression also reflect core features of this autoimmune disease. Self-reported symptoms in patients with SLE ( n = 103) and community control subjects ( n = 136) were examined with the British Columbia Major Depression Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory–II. The patients with lupus obtained higher scores on most items of the former inventory. A logistic regression analysis assessed whether a subset of these items were uniquely related to group membership. Clinically significant fatigue was much more common in patients with lupus than in the control group. Two items relating to sleep disturbance also entered the equation as unique predictors. The three-variable model resulted in 85% of the control subjects and 66% of the patients being correctly classified. A subset of patients with depression, according to the Beck inventory (17 or higher), were selected ( n = 41). Their most frequently endorsed symptoms on the British Columbia Inventory were fatigue (90.2%), trouble falling asleep (70.7%), cognitive difficulty (61%), and psychomotor slowing (58.5%). Only 29.3% reported significant sadness. 15% of these subjects were classified as not depressed, 46% as possibly depressed, and 39% as probably depressed on the British Columbia Inventory. It is advisable to assess whether patients are experiencing significant sadness or loss of interest before concluding that a high score on a screening test corresponds to probable depression.


Lupus ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 132-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y H Lee ◽  
G G Song

Objective This study aimed to systemically review the evidence regarding the relationship between circulating blood osteopontin (OPN) level and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), correlation between serum OPN levels and SLE activity, and association between OPN polymorphisms and SLE susceptibility. Methods We conducted a meta-analysis on the serum/plasma OPN levels in SLE patients and healthy controls, correlation coefficients between the circulating OPN level and SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) in SLE patients, and the association between OPN polymorphisms and SLE risk. Results Nine studies with 1938 SLE patients and 3037 controls were included. Meta-analysis revealed that, compared with the control group, the OPN level was significantly higher in the SLE group (SMD = 0.965, 95% CI = 0.337–1.393, p = 0.001) and in the SLE group with renal disease (SMD = 2.219, 95% CI = 0.681–3.757, p = 0.005). Meta-analysis of correlation coefficients showed a trend of positive correlation between the circulating OPN level and SLEDAI (correlation coefficient = 0.590, 95% CI = −0.025 to 0.881, p = 0.059). While no association was found between SLE and the OPN 707 T/C and 1083 G/A polymorphisms, a significant association was identified between the OPN 1239 C allele and SLE (OR = 1.192, 95% CI = 1.008–1.410, p = 0.040), and between the OPN 9250 C allele and SLE in Asians (OR = 2.070, 95% CI = 1.570–2.730, p = 2.5 × 10−7). Conclusions Our meta-analysis revealed a significantly higher circulating OPN level in SLE patients, a trend of positive correlation between OPN levels and SLE activity, and a significant association between OPN 1239 C/A and 9250 C/T polymorphisms, and SLE development.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Quan ◽  
Jingnan An ◽  
Gang Li ◽  
Guanghui Qian ◽  
Meifang Jin ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) is a kind of chronic inflammatory disease characterized by a highly abnormal immune system. This study aimed to detect expression of the Th cytokines IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, IL-22, IFN-γ and TNF-α in the peripheral blood of children with cSLE; clinical symptoms; and a disease index and discuss the relationship between the Th cell cytokine regulatory network and onset of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in children and disease outcome.Methods: A total of 33 children with cSLE and 30 healthy children were enrolled in this study. Children in the cSLE group were classified into the inactive cSLE group or active cSLE group according to their SLE disease activity index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K). Th cytokine profiles in peripheral blood of different groups were detected and analyzed.Results: The levels of IL-2, IL-10 and IL-21 in the cSLE group were significantly higher than those in the healthy control group (P < 0.05, P<0.01 and P<0.01, respectively). The expression of IL-2, IL-10 and IL-21 in the active cSLE group was significantly higher than that in the healthy control group (P<0.05, P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively), but IL-22 expression was remarkably lower in the active cSLE group than in the healthy control group (P<0.001). IL-21 in the inactive SLE group was significantly higher than that in the healthy control group (P<0.05). The levels of IL-2 and IL-10 in the active cSLE group were significantly higher than those in the inactive cSLE group (P<0.01 and P<0.05). In-depth analysis showed that the expression levels of IL-2 (r=0.382, P=0.028), IL-6 (r=0.514, P=0.002) and IL-10 (r=0.429, P=0.016) were positively correlated with disease activity. Conclusion: This study provides a theoretical basis for the discovery of effective methods to regulate imbalance in T lymphocyte subsets in cSLE, which may open up potential new approaches for the diagnosis of cSLE.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (14) ◽  
pp. 1253-1260
Author(s):  
Bahar Özdemir ◽  
Abdulsamet Erden ◽  
Şükran Erten ◽  
Turan H Yeşil ◽  
Murat Alışık ◽  
...  

Aim: Autoantibody development plays an important role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, we aimed to determine the diagnostic value of anticarbamylated protein antibody (anti-CarP) antibody in SLE and RA patients and its relationship with disease prognosis. Material & method: Fifty-seven SLE patients (F/M 50/7; median age 40.9 ± 13.7; median disease duration 2 years) who met the 2012 SLICC SLE diagnostic criteria were included in the study. A total of 46 RA patients selected according to the 2010 ACR/EULAR diagnostic criteria (F/M 38/8; median age 54.2 ± 12.4; median disease duration 2 years) were included. A total of 30 healthy individuals were selected as the control group. The anti-CarP antibody was studied by using human anticarbamylated protein antibody ELISA Kit (SunRedBio, Shanghai, China). Results: Anti-CarP antibody positivity was found to be 17.4% in RA patients (p < 0.001), 54.4% in SLE patients (p < 0.001) and 3.3% in the healthy control group. The anti-CarP antibody was determined to predict SLE patients with 54.4% sensitivity and 96.7% specificity compared with the healthy control group (area under the curve: 0.755; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Anti-CarP antibody positivity was significantly higher in the SLE patients compared with the healthy control and RA group. It has significant sensitivity and specificity in both SLE and RA patients compared with the healthy controls.


2015 ◽  
Vol 42 (12) ◽  
pp. 2310-2317 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Mario Sabio ◽  
Josefina Martinez-Bordonado ◽  
Isabel Sánchez-Berná ◽  
José Antonio Vargas-Hitos ◽  
Juan Diego Mediavilla ◽  
...  

Objective.To compare 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring (ABPM) values and patterns in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with those of a matched control group and their relationship with the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis.Methods.ABPM was assessed in 70 women with SLE and in 65 sex- and age-matched controls without a history of clinic cardiovascular disease (CVD). Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), which is a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis and a predictor of future CVD, was measured. Multivariate logistic analysis was used to determine which explanatory variables were independently associated with the non-dipper pattern and the presence of nocturnal hypertension (HTN) in women with SLE.Results.No differences in PWV were found between patients and controls [median 7.3, interquartile range (IQR) 6.5–8.1 m/s vs median 7.1, IQR 6.5–7.8 m/s, p = 0.474]. The frequency of nondipper pattern (p = 0.025) and nocturnal HTN (p = 0.004) was significantly higher in women with SLE than in controls. White-coat and masked HTN were present in 10% and 11% of patients and in 20% and 8% of controls, respectively (p > 0.05 in all cases). The concordance between office and ambulatory HTN in the SLE and control groups was modest (κ = 0.325 and κ = 0.451, respectively). PWV and chronic kidney disease, and PWV and the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index were found to be independently associated with nocturnal HTN and nondipper pattern, respectively.Conclusion.Women with SLE were more likely to have an altered nighttime BP pattern than controls. In women with SLE, nondipper pattern and nocturnal HTN were independently associated with increased subclinical atherosclerosis measured by PWV.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Quan ◽  
Jingnan An ◽  
Gang Li ◽  
Guanghui Qian ◽  
Meifang Jin ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) is a kind of chronic inflammatory disease characterized by a highly abnormal immune system. This study aimed to detect the serum levels of Th (T helper) cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, IL-22, IFN-γ and TNF-α) in cSLE and healthy controls, and then to elucidate their association with clinical manifestations, disease activity and laboratory parameters. In order to provide clues for early diagnosis and timely intervention treatment of cSLE patients. Methods A total of 33 children with cSLE and 30 healthy children were enrolled in this study. Children in the cSLE group were classified into the inactive or active cSLE group according to their SLE disease activity index 2000 (SLEDAI-2 K) score. Th cytokine profiles in the peripheral blood were detected and analysed. Results Levels of IL-2, IL-10 and IL-21 in the cSLE group were significantly higher than those in the healthy control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01 and P < 0.01, respectively). Expression of IL-2, IL-10 and IL-21 in the active cSLE group was significantly higher than that in the healthy control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively), but that of IL-22 expression was markedly lower in the active cSLE group than in the healthy control group (P < 0.001). IL-21 in the inactive SLE group was significantly higher than that in the healthy control group (P < 0.05), and levels of IL-2 and IL-10 in the active cSLE group were significantly higher than those in the inactive cSLE group (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05). In-depth analysis showed that after excluding age, gender and drug interference, the levels of IL-2 (P < 0.05), IL-6 (P < 0.05) and IL-10 (P < 0.05) were still positively correlated with SLEDAI-2 K scores. However, the levels of IL-6 (P < 0.05) and IFN- γ (P < 0.05) were still negatively correlated with CD4+/CD8+, and the concentration of IL-6 (P < 0.05) was still positively correlated with the occurrence of nephritis. Conclusion This study provides a theoretical basis for the discovery of effective methods to regulate imbalance in T lymphocyte subsets in cSLE, which may lead to new approaches for the diagnosis of cSLE.


Lupus ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (11) ◽  
pp. 1346-1352
Author(s):  
Min Li ◽  
Gong Cheng ◽  
Zongyi Wang ◽  
Wen Liu ◽  
Yuebo Jin ◽  
...  

Objectives Lupus fundus abnormalities are a sight-threatening complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its pathogenesis remains to be studied. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical characteristics associated with the presence of anti-recoverin antibodies in patients with SLE, especially those with fundus abnormalities. Methods Seventy-six participants were enrolled, including 21 patients with fundus abnormalities (fundus group), 30 patients without fundus abnormalities (non-fundus group) and 25 healthy individuals. Serum anti-recoverin antibody levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and clinical and laboratory data were obtained from medical records. Results Compared with the non-fundus group, the fundus group had a higher incidence of hematuria ( p < 0.05). The Systemic Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score in the fundus group was significantly higher than the non-fundus group (21.48 ± 8.06 versus 10.80 ± 5.74, p < 0.001). The levels of serum anti-recoverin antibodies in the fundus group were significantly higher than the non-fundus group ( p = 0.029) or the healthy control group ( p = 0.011). Anti-recoverin-negative and -positive patients differed on a number of clinical parameters, including incidence of fever, rash, antinuclear antibody, anti-dsDNA antibody, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, immunoglobulin G, complement C3 and complement C4. The average SLEDAI score of anti-recoverin-positive patients was significantly higher than anti-recoverin-negative patients (17.73 ± 8.11 versus 12.56 ± 8.37, p < 0.05). Conclusions Anti-recoverin antibodies were related to higher disease activities in SLE, especially those with fundus abnormalities, suggesting that anti-recoverin antibodies may play an important role in the pathogenesis of fundus abnormalities in SLE.


2009 ◽  
Vol 69 (01) ◽  
pp. 175-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Molad ◽  
M Amit-Vasina ◽  
O Bloch ◽  
E Yona ◽  
M J Rapoport

Background:Aberrant signalling along the p21ras/MAP kinase pathway has been demonstrated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Objective:To determine whether expression and activity of the MAP kinases ERK and JNK reflect disease activity in patients with SLE.Methods:Blood samples of 42 outpatients with SLE were prospectively collected during four consecutive visits. The control group included 20 healthy subjects. Disease activity was assessed using the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). Expression of total ERK and JNK kinases and their active forms (pERK and pJNK) was determined in whole protein lysates of peripheral blood mononuclear cells.Results:The mean levels of the active kinases pERK and pJNK were significantly increased in patients with active disease (SLEDAI 4–20) as compared with patients with inactive disease (SLEDAI 0–3), p = 0.04, as well as with healthy controls, p = 0.03 and p = 0.003 for pERK and pJNK, respectively. The percentage of activated forms of ERK and JNK of the total expression of these MAP kinases was also gradually increased, reaching 50% for pERK and >40% for pJNK in patients with SLE with moderate-to-severe disease (SLEDAI 7–20), p = 0.005, p = 0.005 and p = 0.02, p = 0.05 as compared with controls and inactive patients, respectively. A decrease of more than three SLEDAI points was associated with a significant reduction in the expression of both total and activated forms of ERK and JNK, p = 0.03, p = 0.01, respectively.Conclusions:The results show that ERK and JNK activity reflects disease activity in patients with SLE. These MAP kinases may serve as additional tools for the evaluation of disease activity and management of these patients.


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