title: Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery in assessment of cognitive parameters in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in relation to autoantibody profile.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To relate the cognitive parameters of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients in remission to their profile of autoantibodies.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 32 patients with SLE in remission, with mild disease activity as indicated by SELENA-SLEDAI < 6. For neuropsychological assessment, the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) was applied, using motor screening (MOT), big little circle (BLC), paired associated learning (PAL), stockings of Cambridge (SOC), and graded naming tests (GNT). Detection of autoantibodies against dsDNA, nucleosome (aNuc), Sm, and anticardiolipin (aCL: IgG and IgM) was performed with immunoassays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The SLE patients demonstrated standard scores below norms, matched according to age and gender, in the following tests: GNT (-0.87 ±0.85), SOC PSMM (-0.47 ±0.97), PAL (-1.88 ±3.58), and BLC (-0.31 ±1.90). GNT scores under -0.5 were found significantly more frequently in SLE patients, seen in roughly 66% of test subjects. Values for PAL and mean subsequent thinking time of stockings of Cambridge (SOC MSTT) were found to be lower than -0.5 in approximately half of the patients. Mean error of motor screening (MOT ME) was found to negatively correlate with mean latency of motor screening (MOT ML) (r = -0.55). PAL significantly correlated with SOC MSTT (r = 0.38) and with GNT (r = 0.36). Anti-dsDNA antibody level correlated negatively with MOT ME (r = -0.46). Anti-Nuc antibodies correlated with MOT ML (r = 0.41) but negatively correlated with MOT ME (r = -0.58). The levels of anti-Sm, anti-CL IgM and IgG did not correlate significantly with the outcomes of CANTAB. The age of the patients correlated negatively with MOT ME (r = -0.36), positively with BLC (r = 0.53) and negatively with SOC MSTT (r = -0.43). The level of anti-Nuc antibodies correlated with anti-dsDNA level (r = 0.62) and of anti-CL IgM with anti-Sm (r = 0.39) and anti-CL IgG (r = 0.87).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CANTAB reveals a decrease in selected cognitive functions in patients with SLE. ACL IgG and anti-dsDNA antibodies indicated SLE patients prone to develop a decrease in cognitive functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bogaczewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Tomasz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sobow
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Diseases and Cardiological Rehabilitation, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kowalski
authors.affiliation: Unit of Microbiology and Serology, Institute of Rheumatology, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Jakub
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ząbek
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Woźniacka
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Jaroslaw
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bogaczewicz
keywords: autoantibodies; cognitive functions; neuropsychological test; systemic lupus erythematosus