Prevalence and characteristics of neuropsychiatric involvement in an Egyptian cohort of systemic lupus erythematosus patients: a single-center retrospective cohort

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to retrospectively investigate the prevalence and characteristics of neuropsychiatric (NP) involvement in a cohort of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients from a single tertiary center. Results Of 301 included patients’ medical records, the prevalence of NPSLE, that was defined according to the American College of Rheumatology Nomenclature of 1999, was 33.5% (101/301), of whom 10 (9.9%) were males. The mean age at the last visit of patients with NP involvement was 29.1 ± 8.2 years, whereas the mean age at onset was 21.9 ± 7.3 years, and the mean disease duration was 89.8 ± 59.4 months. The most common NP manifestations were psychosis [34/101 (33.7%)], followed by seizures [22/101 (21.8%)]. Compared to those without NPSLE, patients with NP involvement were characterized by having a younger age of onset (p < 0.001) had a longer disease duration (p = 0.02). Of the cumulative characteristics recorded, NPSLE patients showed a higher prevalence of cutaneous vasculitis (p = 0.002), discoid rash (p = 0.03), pleurisy and pleural effusion (p = 0.004, p = 0.03, respectively), pericarditis (p = 0.007), thrombocytopenia (p = 0.04), and secondary antiphospholipid (APS) (p = 0.04); however, there was no difference in any of the included serologic features between the two groups. Patients with NPSLE had a higher median disease activity score [Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index-2 K (SLEDAI-2 K)] at the disease onset (p = 0.008), yet it was comparable to those without NP involvement at the last visit (p = 0.3). NPSLE patients demonstrated a higher median damage score (p < 0.001) that was assessed according to the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI) score. NPSLE patients with secondary APS showed a higher prevalence of cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) (p < 0.001), while those without APS developed psychosis more frequently (p = 0.03). Conclusion Neuropsychiatric SLE patients (33.5%) demonstrated a younger age of onset, higher prevalence of secondary APS and distinct clinical characteristics, and had higher disease damage. APS-positive NPSLE patients had a higher prevalence of CVA, while APS-negative patients showed a higher prevalence of psychosis