Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Neuropsychiatric manifestation in systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is one of the most recalcitrant complications of the disease. According to the 1999 ACR nomenclature and case definitions, diffuse psychiatric/neuropsychological syndromes in NPSLE (anxiety disorder, acute confusional state, cognitive dysfunction, mood disorder, psychosis) (diffuse NPSLE) present psychiatric manifestations unlike neurologic syndromes (focal NPSLE) originating from focal CNS lesions, such as cerebrovascular disease, demyelinating syndrome, headache, aseptic meningitis, chorea, seizures and myelopathy. A number of studies have reported that diffuse NPSLE is usually associated with the presence of autoantibodies against neuronal cells in serum as well as in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Moreover, IL-6 has been shown to be elevated in CSF of patients with diffuse NPSLE.

Recently, it has been demonstrated that the severity of blood-brain barrier damages plays a crucial role in the development of acute confusional state, the severest form of diffuse NPSLE through the accelerated entry of larger amounts of autoantibodies to NMDA receptor subunit NR2 into the CNS. Since the importance of autoantibodies in the NPSLE has been now evident, such an aggressive treatment, especially B cell depleting therapy, would make sense in that it would reduce the levels of pathogenic autoantibodies, leading to a better prognosis of NPSLE. As far as we know, no single book specifically dedicated to NPSLE alone has been published as yet. As mentioned above, NPSLE constitutes a vastly expanding field of research with increasing numbers of papers published annually. Therefore, we believe that an effort to collect and critically review these publications is invaluable. Such an effort will provide an important contribution to basic researchers as well as clinicians working in the field of neurology, rheumatology, psychiatry and internal medicine fields.

Presents a valuable tool for clinicians, who will need to make a correct diagnosis of diffuse NPSLE, especially a differential diagnosis from steroid-induced psychosis

Provides a guide for clinical researchers in the field of rheumatology, radiology, psychiatry and neurology

Provides an overview for basic researchers in the field of immunology and neurosciences

Autorentext

Shunsei Hirohata - Shunsei Hirohata graduated from The University of Tokyo School of Medicine in 1980. After the 2-year residency, he joined the Department of Medicine & Physical Therapy, The University of Tokyo. He moved to Teikyo University School of Medicine in 1992 (Associated professor), to Kitasato University School of Medicine in 2006 (Professor), and to Nobuhara Hospital in 2017 (Vice Director). His research topics include neuro-Behcet's disease, neuropsychiatric SLE and bone marrow abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis. He also works as a visiting professor in Kitasato University School of Medicine.

Inhalt
Epidemiology; Naoyuki Tsuchiya Genetics; &nbs p; Hiroshi Furukawa Immunology and pathogenesis; Shunsei Hirohata

Pathology; Shunsei Hirohata, Masahisa Kyogoku

Clinical Features; Yoshiyuki Arinuma Cytokines Taku Yoshio

Diagnosis and Differential diagnosis Taku Yoshio

Imaging of NBD; Tom W. Huizinga

Psychiatic symptoms; &nb sp; Katsuji Nishimura Treatment; John G. Hanly

Promising treatment alternatives;
Dimitrious T. Boumpas Prognosis; Shinsuke Yasuda