Neuropsychiatric manifestations in Thai patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

• Main Authors: Kasitanon N., Louthrenoo W., Piyasirisilp S., Sukitawut W., Wichainun R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Online Access: http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-0036771371&partnerID=40&md5=c48cbce1ffc35ea4136eb2b051dcdbc5; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12587842; http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/handle/6653943832/2401
• Institution: Chiang Mai University

Neuropsychiatric (NP) manifestations in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) [NPSLE] and prognostic factors were studied in 91 patients. There were 98 NP episodes, of which 78 (79.6%) occurred within the first year of the disease. Twenty-six patients (6.7%) had NPSLE as an initial presentation of the disease. There were seizures in 53 episodes (54.1%), psychosis in 13 (13.3%), acute confusion state in 11 (11.2%), abnormal consciousness in 6 (6.1%), transverse myelitis in 6 (6.1%), peripheral neuropathy in 5 (5.1%), cerebral infarction in 2 (2.0%) and aseptic meningitis in 2 (2.0%). Most forms of NPSLE responded well to high dose corticosteroids. Anti-convulsant therapy could be discontinued within a median duration of 3 months after the SLE activity was under control, and without significant recurrence of seizures. The 5-year and 10-year survival rates of patients with NPSLE were 75.9% and 50.6%, respectively. Patients with NPSLE had significantly more cutaneous vasculitis and less arthritis than those without.