Spin-spin relaxation of brain tissues in systemic lupus erythematosus. A method for increasing the sensitivity of magnetic resonance imaging for neuropsychiatric lupus.
OBJECTIVE
To correlate the spin-spin relaxation time (T2) of brain tissue in neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) with the patient's clinical condition.


METHODS
T2 values were determined in 54 SLE patients and 45 non-SLE controls at 1.5 Tesla, using intensity from multi-echo magnetic resonance (MR) images fitted to an exponential decay curve with rate-constant T2.


RESULTS
The T2 of white matter was increased in SLE patients compared with controls (P = 0.01) and was increased in those patients who had previously experienced major NPSLE: Patients with acute diffuse neurologic manifestations (seizures, psychosis, coma) demonstrated a longer T2 of the gray matter (mean +/- SD 92.75 +/- 6.35 ms, n = 10) than did other SLE patients (mean +/- SD 79.61 +/- 5.04 ms, n = 44) (P = 0.02 by t-test), which suggests acute cerebral edema. The mean T2 values of reversible and nonreversible focal lesions were significantly different (P < 0.02), indicating different microenvironments and micropathology.


CONCLUSIONS
Quantitative T2 measurement extends the utility and sensitivity of conventional MR imaging for evaluating NPSLE:
Sibbitt
W L
WL
Division of Rheumatology, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque 87131, USA.
Brooks
W M
WM
Haseler
L J
LJ
Griffey
R H
RH
Frank
L M
LM
Hart
B L
BL
Sibbitt
R R
RR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D003128:Coma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000523:psychology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D012640:Seizures / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors