Cognitive and cerebral hemodynamic impairment in scleroderma patients

Neurological involvement in systemic sclerosis is unusual despite the possible cerebral localization of vascular lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate cognitive performances and cerebral vasoreactivity in young scleroderma patients without any signs or symptoms of nervous system involvement.

Sixteen scleroderma patients and 16 sex- and age-matched healthy subjects without vascular risk factors were included. A neuropsychological assessment for the evaluation of different areas of cognition was performed. For an assessment of cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), each subject was submitted to hypercapnia with transcranial Doppler ultrasonography using the Breath-Holding Index (BHI).

Patients had significantly lower adjusted mean levels of performance with respect to controls in the Modified Card Sorting Test (P < 0.001) and in the Trail Making Test Parts A and B (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05 respectively). Regarding CVR, BHI values were significantly lower in patients with respect to controls: 0.82 +/- 0.44 vs. 1.34 +/- 0.18, P < 0.0001.

These findings show the presence of reduced performances of executive functions in scleroderma patients. The associated alteration of CVR in the absence of other apparent causes of cerebrovascular impairment suggests that cognitive problems may be related to an alteration in cerebral perfusion regulation specifically linked to the disease. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether cognitive changes may be positively influenced by treatments aimed to improve vessels functionality in scleroderma patients.