YNICL Journal 2023 Journal Article
Abnormal cerebral hemodynamics and blood-brain barrier permeability detected with perfusion MRI in systemic lupus erythematosus patients
- T. Salomonsson
- T. Rumetshofer
- A. Jönsen
- A.A. Bengtsson
- K.A. Zervides
- P. Nilsson
- M. Knutsson
- R. Wirestam
OBJECTIVE: Dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has previously shown alterations in cerebral perfusion in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the results have been inconsistent, in particular regarding neuropsychiatric (NP) SLE. Thus, we investigated perfusion-based measures in different brain regions in SLE patients with and without NP involvement, and additionally, in white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), the most common MRI pathology in SLE patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ) were investigated in WMHs compared to normal appearing white matter (NAWM) in the SLE patients. RESULTS: ) compared to NAWM. CONCLUSION: in WMHs compared to NAWM may indicate blood-brain barrier dysfunction in SLE patients. We conclude that our results show a robust cerebral perfusion, independent from the different NP attribution models, and provide insight into potential BBB dysfunction and altered vascular properties of WMHs in female SLE patients. Despite SLE being most prevalent in females, a generalization of our conclusions should be avoided, and future studies including all sexes are needed.