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Cognitive function, disease burden and the structural connectome in systemic lupus erythematosus
S J Wiseman1, M E Bastin1, E N Amft2
11 Centre for Clinical Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, UK.
Lupus
|May 4, 2018
Summary
Brain network connectivity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients is linked to cognitive function and disease damage. These findings suggest connectomics may aid in monitoring SLE patients.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimaging
- Connectomics
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Research
Background:
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can affect the brain, impacting cognitive function and leading to systemic damage.
- Understanding the relationship between brain structural connectivity, cognitive abilities, and SLE-related damage is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between brain structural connectivity, cognitive abilities, and systemic damage in patients with SLE.
- To explore the utility of connectomics in understanding and monitoring neurological aspects of SLE.
Main Methods:
- Structural and diffusion MRI data were collected from 47 SLE patients.
- Brain structural connectomes were generated using graph theory, segmenting brains into 85 regions and employing whole-brain tractography.
- Cognitive abilities (g) and SLE damage (LD) were assessed using composite scores; statistical analyses, including multiple linear regression, were performed.
Main Results:
- Network density and strength were independently associated with cognitive abilities in SLE patients.
- Network strength, mean shortest path length, global efficiency, and clustering coefficient were independently associated with systemic damage.
- No significant relationships were found between network metrics and current SLE disease activity.
Conclusions:
- Brain topological network properties are related to both cognitive function and systemic damage in SLE patients, irrespective of neuropsychiatric involvement.
- Connectomics offers a potential tool for understanding and monitoring cognitive function and white matter integrity in SLE.
- These findings highlight the importance of assessing brain structural connectivity in SLE management.
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