Cortical Thickness and Subcortical Gray Matter Reductions in Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

摘要: Within systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients can be divided into groups with and without central nervous system involvement, the latter being subcategorized as neuropsychiatric (NPSLE). While a number of research have investigated NPSLE, there remains lack consistent application this diagnostic criteria within neuroimaging studies. Previous suggests that SLE reduced subcortical regional gray matter volumes when compared to controls, these group differences may driven by symptoms. The current study sought compare measures cortical thickness structure volume between SLE, healthy controls. We hypothesized NPSLE (N = 21) would thinner cortex 16) control subjects 21). All underwent MRI examinations on 1.5 Tesla Siemens Sonata scanner. Anatomical reconstruction segmentation were performed using FreeSurfer image analysis suite. Cortical extracted from analyzed for differences, controlling age. exhibited decreased in clusters left frontal parietal lobes well right occipital subjects. Compared group, comparable thinning temporal lobes. Controlling age, we found effects structures significant thalamus (F 3.06, p .04), caudate nucleus 3.19, .03), putamen 4.82, .005). These results clarify previous imaging work identifying atrophy mixed suggest neuroanatomical abnormalities are specific diagnosed Future should help elucidate underlying mechanisms emerging neurobiological profile seen apparent overlap functional activation other findings pointing increased during cognitive tasks.