Structural Brain Network Reorganization in Patients with Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Medical Imaging
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can affect the brain, leading to neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSLE).
• NPSLE patients often have poorer outcomes than SLE patients without neuropsychiatric involvement.
• Understanding NPSLE mechanisms is crucial for improved diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate structural brain network differences between NPSLE and SLE patients.
• To compare brain network topology and efficiency in these patient groups.

Main Methods:

• Utilized brain connectivity analysis on diffusion MR imaging data.
• Recruited 20 patients for each cohort: NPSLE, SLE, and age-matched healthy controls.
• Examined network topology, efficiency, and characteristics of brain hubs.

Main Results:

• NPSLE patients exhibited more extensive structural brain network reorganization than SLE patients.
• Significantly decreased clustering coefficient and local efficiency were observed in NPSLE.
• Lower nodal efficiency was found in the superior and middle temporal gyri of NPSLE patients.

Conclusions:

• Findings suggest a link between neuropsychiatric symptoms and structural brain network changes in SLE.
• Brain connectivity analysis shows potential as a tool for subtyping NPSLE patients.