학술논문

Microembolic signals in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Document Type
Academic Journal
Author
Azarpazhooh MR; Department of Neurology, Ghaem Medical Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.; Mokhber NOrouji EChambers BRHatef MRRezaieyazdi ZSedighi SForoghipoor MVelayati AGharavi MM
Source
Publisher: published by Cambridge University Press for the Canadian Neurological Sciences Federation Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 0415227 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 0317-1671 (Print) Linking ISSN: 03171671 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Can J Neurol Sci Subsets: MEDLINE
Subject
Language
English
ISSN
0317-1671
Abstract
Introduction: Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is a common and less understood aspect of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Microembolic signals (MES) have been reported in SLE. We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the frequency of MES among patients with CNS involvement and those without. The main aim of the study is to clarify the pathophysiology of the CNS involvement in SLE.
Methods and Materials: Sixty eight patients with a diagnosis of SLE (60 females, 8 males) participated in the study. Both middle cerebral arteries were monitored using transcranial Doppler for 60 min to detect MES. All cases underwent neurology and psychiatry assessments.
Results: MES were detected in 7/68 patients (10.3%) with the mean number of 3.5 per hour. MES were significantly higher in patients with CNS involvement (6/24, 25%) than those without (1/44, 2.2%) (P=0.006). SLE disease activity index, duration of disease, plaque formation, intima-media thickness, and antiphospholipid antibodies were not associated with MES. MES were more frequent in patients receiving Aspirin and/or Warfarin (p=0.02).
Conclusions: MES may be a predictor for CNS involvement in SLE patients at risk for neuropsychiatric syndromes. Cerebral embolism may be implicated in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric SLE.