Cognitive dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus: prevalence and correlates.
Little is known about the mechanisms and relevance of cognitive dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients who never displayed major neuropsychiatric manifestations (nSLE). Thirty-one nSLE female patients and 31 cognitively healthy control women were recruited. Sociodemographic, clinical, neuropsychological and SLE-related markers were collected including cerebral perfusion by single-photon emission computed tomography. Prevalences of cognitive complaints were 22.6% in nSLE versus 6.5% in the control group (p = 0.147); respective prevalences of cognitive dysfunction were 32.3 versus 6.5% (p = 0.01). Within the nSLE group, all cognitive domains appeared similarly affected, and correlations were found between cognitive dysfunction and less skilled occupation (r = -0.41, p = 0.02) and between cognitive complaints and depressive symptoms (r = 0.35, p = 0.05). Cognitive dysfunction is rather frequent in nSLE and seems to negatively impinge on social functioning.
Olazarán
J
J
Neurology, Services, Gregorio Marañón General University Teaching Hospital, Madrid, Spain. javier@mariawolff.es
López-Longo
J
J
Cruz
I
I
Bittini
A
A
Carreño
L
L
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009790:Occupations; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015899:Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon; D055815:Young Adult