title: Cognitive impairment in systemic lupus erythematosus and neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus: a population-based neuropsychological study.
abstract: We present a cross-sectional, population-based neuropsychological study of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients identified within Tampere University Hospital district, Finland with 440,000 inhabitants. Patients with definite SLE in the age range of 16-65 years (n = 46) and matched controls (n = 46) underwent neurological examination and comprehensive neuropsychological testing. On the basis of medical examination, the SLE patients were divided into neuropsychiatric (NP+; n = 15) and nonneuropsychiatric (NP-; n = 31) cases. The neuropsychological test results revealed more prevalent cognitive impairment in the NP+ patients, indicating that this subgroup mostly accounts for neuropsychological changes in SLE. Most characteristic changes in NP+ were observed in domains of memory, psychomotor speed, and complex attention. This suggests nonspecific CNS involvement, which is in line with neurological manifestations of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Mental Health Center of Pori, Pori, Finland. jukka.loukkola@ppshp.fi
authors.forename: Jukka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loukkola
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laine
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ainiala
authors.forename: Jukka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peltola
authors.forename: Riina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Metsänoja
authors.forename: Anssi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Auvinen
authors.forename: Aki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hietaharju
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D018672:Community Health Planning; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D020945:Lupus Vasculitis, Central Nervous System / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests