title: Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder scores are elevated and respond to N-acetylcysteine treatment in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may serve as a marker of neuropsychiatric disease and as a target for N-acetylcysteine (NAC) treatment in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
  
  
  METHODS
  The ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) was used to assess 49 patients with SLE and 46 matched healthy control subjects. Twenty-four of the patients with SLE were randomized to receive either placebo, NAC at a dosage of 2.4 gm/day, or NAC at a dosage of 4.8 gm/day. Disease activity was evaluated monthly using the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) index, the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS), and the ASRS, before and during the 3-month treatment period and after a 1-month washout period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cognitive/inattentive (ASRS part A), hyperactivity/impulsive (ASRS part B), and combined (total) ASRS scores were increased in patients with SLE compared with control subjects (mean ± SEM 17.37 ± 1.03 [P = 3 × 10(-7) ], 14.51 ± 0.89 [P = 2 × 10(-4) ], and 31.92 ± 1.74 [P = 8 × 10(-7) ], respectively, versus 10.41 ± 1.02, 9.61 ± 1.21, and 20.02 ± 1.98, respectively. ASRS part A scores correlated with SLEDAI (r = 0.53, P < 0.0001) and BILAG scores (r = 0.36, P = 0.011). ASRS total scores also correlated with SLEDAI (r = 0.45, P = 0.0009) and BILAG scores (r = 0.31, P = 0.025). ASRS part A (r = 0.73, P < 0.0001), ASRS part B (r = 0.47, P = 0.0006), and ASRS total scores (r = 0.67, P < 0.0001) correlated with the FAS score. Relative to the scores in placebo-treated patients, ASRS total scores were reduced in SLE patients treated with NAC dosages of 2.4 gm/day and 4.8 gm/day combined (P = 0.037). ASRS part A scores were reduced by NAC dosages of 2.4 gm/day (P = 0.001) and 4.8 gm/day (P < 0.0001) as well as by NAC at dosages of 2.4 gm/day and 4.8 gm/day combined (P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with SLE, elevated ASRS scores reveal previously unrecognized and clinically significant symptoms of ADHD that respond to NAC treatment.
authors: State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse 13210, USA.
authors: Ricardo J
authors: RJ
authors: Garcia
authors: Lisa
authors: L
authors: Francis
authors: Maha
authors: M
authors: Dawood
authors: Zhi-Wei
authors: ZW
authors: Lai
authors: Stephen V
authors: SV
authors: Faraone
authors: Andras
authors: A
authors: Perl
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D000111:Acetylcysteine
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