Decreased regional cerebral metabolic rate for glucose in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with psychiatric symptoms

To determine brain functional abnormality in systemic lupus erythematosus ( SLE) patients with psychiatric symptoms, we evaluated 12 active SLE patient s with or without psychiatric symptoms by means of [F-18]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D -glucose positron emission tomography (PET), magnetic resonance imaging and neuropsychological testing. Patients with psychiatric symptoms showed sign ificantly poorer performance in tests which subserved attentional function. The PET study revealed that the psychiatric patients had significantly dec reased regional cerebral metabolic rates for glucose in the prefrontal, inf erior parietal and anterior cingulate regions. Prefrontal, inferior parieta l and anterior cingulate dysfunction may be related to attentional deficits that are involved in various psychiatric symptoms in SLE. PET is an invalu able tool to reveal such brain functional abnormality seen in SLE patients with psychiatric symptoms.