Anti-P is frequently observed in cSLE patients and was associated with the presence of anxiety in this cohort of cSLE.

Objective To investigate serologic S100β protein levels in childhood-onset SLE patients (cSLE) and to elucidate their association with disease activity and neuropsychiatric (NP) manifestations. Methods We included 71 cSLE patients (67 females; median age 18 years; range 9-37 and 53 (47 females; median age of 20 years; range 6-29) age and sex matched healthy controls. Neurological manifestations were analysed according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. Cognitive evaluation was performed in all participants using Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-III) and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), according to age, and validated in Portuguese. SLE patients were further assessed for clinical and laboratory SLE manifestations, disease activity (SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI)), damage (Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI)) and current drug exposures. Sera S100β protein levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using commercial kits. Results The median S100β protein level was 116.55 pg/mL (range 1.53-468.50) in cSLE and 54.98 pg/mL (range 0.69-181.00) in healthy controls ( p < 0.001). An association was observed between S100β protein and NP manifestations ( p = 0.03). The S100β protein levels was associated with cognitive impairment in cSLE patients ( p = 0.006). Conclusions S100β protein levels are increased in cSLE with cognitive impairment. S100β may be considered a potential biomarker that underlies central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction, especially cognitive impairment.

Objective. There have been few studies in which the prevalence of cerebral atrophy in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was evaluated using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) volumetric measurements. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of cerebral and corpus callosum atrophy in childhood-onset SLE and to determine the possible relationships between atrophy and clinical, laboratory, and treatment features of the disease.Methods. We included 76 patients with childhoodonset SLE (69 female and 7 male; median age 16 years) and 66 age-and sex-matched healthy controls. Neurologic manifestations were analyzed according to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. These SLE patients were further assessed for clinical and laboratory manifestations of SLE, disease activity (using the SLE Disease Activity Index), damage (using the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/ACR Damage Index), and current and cumulative drug exposures. Scans were performed with a Philips 3.0T MRI scanner using a standardized protocol.Results. Childhood-onset SLE patients had significantly smaller cerebral and corpus callosum volumes than controls (median cerebral volume 1,067.9 cm 3 versus 1,172.7 cm 3 and median corpus callosum volume 11.6 cm 3 versus 13.7 cm 3 ; P < 0.001). The presence of structural abnormalities was observed in 42 patients (55.3%) with childhood-onset SLE. The presence of cerebral atrophy was associated with anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) (P 5 0.02), anti-double-stranded DNA (P 5 0.02), and cumulative corticosteroid dose (P 5 0.04). The presence of corpus callosum atrophy was associated with low complement level (P 5 0.006) and acute confusional state (P 5 0.01). Serum levels of S100B or high molecular weight neurofilament and the presence of anti-ribosomal P were not associated with atrophy.Conclusion. Structural brain abnormalities were observed in 55.3% of the patients and were associated with neuropsychiatric manifestations, aCL, and corticosteroid use. To determine permanent neurologic damage, longitudinal studies must be conducted in these patients.Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, multisystem autoimmune disease characterized by various clinical manifestations. Approximately 15-20% of patients with SLE develop the disease in childhood or adolescence (1,2). Clinical and laboratory manifestations in adult and childhood-onset SLE are similar; however, in childhood-onset SLE there is a higher prevalence and severity of some manifestations, especially nephritis and

Patients with JSLE concomitantly with cognitive dysfunction showed worse academic performance in mathematics compared to patients without cognitive impairment.

Patients with JSLE concomitantly with cognitive dysfunction showed worse academic performance in mathematics compared to patients without cognitive impairment.