Cerebral atrophy related to corticotherapy in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency and intensity of cerebral atrophy using CT scanning and the possible relation to corticosteroid therapy or disease in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to analyse the relationships between cerebral atrophy and activity disease and neuropsychia...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical rheumatology 2001-01, Vol.20 (4), p.245-250
Main Authors: Zanardi, V A, Magna, L A, Costallat, L T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adrenal Cortex Hormones - adverse effects
Adrenal Cortex Hormones - therapeutic use
Adult
Age Distribution
Analysis of Variance
Atrophy - chemically induced
Atrophy - diagnostic imaging
Atrophy - epidemiology
Brain - diagnostic imaging
Brain - drug effects
Brain - pathology
Brain Diseases - chemically induced
Brain Diseases - diagnostic imaging
Brain Diseases - epidemiology
Case-Control Studies
Cohort Studies
Female
Humans
Linear Models
Lupus
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - diagnosis
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - drug therapy
Male
Middle Aged
Neurological disorders
Prevalence
Probability
Rheumatology
Risk Assessment
Severity of Illness Index
Sex Distribution
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Summary:The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency and intensity of cerebral atrophy using CT scanning and the possible relation to corticosteroid therapy or disease in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to analyse the relationships between cerebral atrophy and activity disease and neuropsychiatric manifestations in lupus patients. We studied 107 consecutive SLE patients (American Rheumatology Association 1982 criteria) who were taking steroid drugs at the time and not selected for any particular manifestation (group 1). A complete clinical, neurological and laboratory evaluation was performed. The American College of Rheumatology's classification for neuropsychiatric manifestations and SLE disease activity index for activity were employed. Group 2 comprised 39 non-SLE patients with oral chronic steroid use (1 mg/k/day for more than 3 consecutive months); 50 normal individuals were the controls (group 3). There were no demographic differences between the groups. Brain CT was performed in all individuals and the frequency and the intensity (minimal, moderate and severe) of atrophy analysed, through well-defined measures and indices, by two neuroradiologists. Cerebral atrophy was significantly more frequent in groups 1 and 2 than in group 3, but with no significant difference between groups 1 and 2. The severity of cerebral atrophy was significantly higher in SLE patients (p
ISSN:0770-3198
1434-9949
DOI:10.1007/s100670170037