Mj. Jarek et al., MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS PATIENTS WITHOUT A HISTORY OF NEUROPSYCHIATRIC LUPUS-ERYTHEMATOSUS, Arthritis and rheumatism, 37(11), 1994, pp. 1609-1613
Objective. To determine the prevalence of magnetic resonance imaging (
MRI) lesions in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients without a
history of neuropsychiatric symptoms and to correlate any MRI abnormal
ities with the patient's other disease manifestations or treatment. Me
thods. Prospective study of 32 consecutive patients with SLE without a
history of neuropsychiatric symptoms, from inpatient and outpatient r
heumatology services, who underwent MRI scan during a 3-year period. R
esults. Five patients had MRI abnormalities consisting of white matter
lesions or periventricular hyperintensities; this is similar to the p
revalence of these abnormalities in the general population. Conclusion
. The prevalence of silent brain MRI abnormalities is not increased in
SLE patients who do not have a history of neuropsychiatric manifestat
ions.