Cerebral lesions in systemic lupus erythematosus detected by magnetic resonance imaging. Relationship to anticardiolipin antibody.
OBJECTIVE
To detect cerebral lesions in neuropsychiatrically symptomatic or asymptomatic patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and investigate the relationship of these lesions to clinical and laboratory variables.


METHODS
Brain magnetic resonance imaging was performed on 31 patients with SLE under the age of 50, including 2 patients with central nervous system (CNS) lupus and 29 neuropsychiatrically asymptomatic patients.


RESULTS
Abnormal high intensity spots on T2 weighted images were found in 10 patients (32%), of which 5 were neuropsychiatrically asymptomatic throughout the disease course. The high intensity spot was significantly associated with the presence of high levels of anticardiolipin antibody (aCL) of IgG isotype, livedo reticularis and CNS lupus.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that asymptomatic cerebral lesions are not rare in patients with SLE and screening of aCL would be helpful in predicting cerebral lesions. A followup study of these asymptomatic patients is necessary to clarify the clinical significance of a high intensity spot.
Ishikawa
O
O
Department of Dermatology and Diagnostic Radiology, School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi, Japan.
Ohnishi
K
K
Miyachi
Y
Y
Ishizaka
H
H
D000328:Adult; D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin / Q000032:analysis*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged
D017153:Antibodies, Anticardiolipin