Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid Autoantibodies in Patients with Neuropsychiatric Lupus Erythematosus. Implications for Diagnosis and Pathogenesis
2008

Autoantibodies in Patients with Neuropsychiatric Lupus Erythematosus

Sample size: 47 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Fragoso-Loyo Hilda, Cabiedes Javier, Orozco-Narváez Alejandro, Dávila-Maldonado Luis, Atisha-Fregoso Yemil, Diamond Betty, Llorente Luis, Sánchez-Guerrero Jorge

Primary Institution: Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán

Hypothesis

The study aimed to assess the association of serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) autoantibodies with neuropsychiatric manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

Conclusion

In neuropsychiatric lupus erythematosus, autoantibodies in serum do not reflect their behavior in cerebrospinal fluid.

Supporting Evidence

  • Autoantibodies in serum did not differentiate among SLE groups.
  • Anti-NMDAR antibodies in CSF identified patients with central NPSLE.
  • Most patients with central NPSLE had a decrease in autoantibody levels at six months.

Takeaway

This study looked at patients with lupus who have brain problems and found that the antibodies in their blood don't tell us much about what's happening in their brains.

Methodology

The study included 47 SLE patients with neuropsychiatric manifestations, evaluated at hospitalization and six months later, with serum and CSF samples collected at each evaluation.

Potential Biases

Potential misclassification in attributing neuropsychiatric manifestations to SLE due to concurrent non-SLE factors.

Limitations

The study was not adequately powered to correlate specific antibodies with specific neuropsychiatric manifestations, and a limited number of patients with peripheral NP manifestations were included.

Participant Demographics

Mean age of NPSLE patients was 31.5 years, with a predominance of females.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0003347

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