ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (j-SLE) is a rare chronic auto-immune disease involving several organs. Neuropsychiatric (NP) SLE (NPSLE) is frequent in j-SLE and associated with increased morbidity/mortality. Although NPSLE classification criteria exist, attributing NP features to j-SLE remains a major challenge. The study objective is to thoroughly describe j-NPSLE patients and assist in their diagnosis. METHODS: This is a 4-year retrospective monocentric study of j-SLE patients. NP events were attributed to j-SLE using standardised diagnostic criteria and multidisciplinary paediatric clinical expertise. Clinical features, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)s and samples analysis including cerebrospinal fluid were assessed. A risk of j-NPSLE score was developed based on multivariable logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Of 39 patients included, 44% were identified as having j-NPSLE. J-NPSLE diagnosis was established at the onset of j-SLE in 59% of patients. In addition to frequent kidney involvement (76%) and chilblains (65%), all j-NPSLE patients displayed psychiatric features: cognitive symptoms (82%), hallucinations (76%), depressed mood (35%), acute confused state (18%) and catatonia (12%). Neurological involvement was often mild and nonspecific, with headache (53%) in about half of the patients. The main features reported on brain MRI were nonspecific T2/FLAIR white matter hyperintensities (65%), and cerebral atrophy (88%). Upon immunosuppressive treatment, clinical improvement of NP features was observed in all j-NPSLE patients. The score developed to attribute j-NPSLE probability, guide further investigations and appropriate treatments is based on hallucinations, memory, sleep and renal involvement (Sensitivity: 0.95 Specificity: 0.85). Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neopterin assessment increases the score sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSION: Physicians should carefully and systematically assess the presence of NP features at diagnosis and early stages of j-SLE. For j-NPSLE patients with predominant psychiatric features, a multidisciplinary collaboration, including psychiatrists, is essential for the diagnosis, management and follow-up.
Subject(s)
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic , Lupus Vasculitis, Central Nervous System , Humans , Child , Lupus Vasculitis, Central Nervous System/pathology , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/complications , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/diagnosis , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/pathology , Retrospective Studies , Brain/diagnostic imaging , Brain/pathology , Magnetic Resonance Imaging/methods , Hallucinations/complications , Hallucinations/pathologyABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (j-SLE) is a rare chronic autoimmune disease affecting multiple organs. Ranging from minor features, such as headache or mild cognitive impairment, to serious and life-threatening presentations, j-neuropsychiatric SLE (j-NPSLE) is a therapeutic challenge. Thus, the diagnosis of NPSLE remains difficult, especially in pediatrics, with no specific biomarker of the disease yet validated. OBJECTIVES: To identify central nervous system (CNS) disease biomarkers of j-NPSLE. METHODS: A 5-year retrospective tertiary reference monocentric j-SLE study. A combination of standardized diagnostic criteria and multidisciplinary pediatric clinical expertise was combined to attribute NP involvement in the context of j-SLE. Neopterin and interferon-alpha (IFN-α) protein levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were assessed, together with routine biological and radiological investigations. RESULTS: Among 51 patients with j-SLE included, 39% presented with j-NPSLE. J-NPSLE was diagnosed at onset of j-SLE in 65% of patients. No specific routine biological or radiological marker of j-NPSLE was identified. However, CSF neopterin levels were significantly higher in active j-NPSLE with CNS involvement than in j-SLE alone (p = 0.0008). Neopterin and IFN-α protein levels in CSF were significantly higher at diagnosis of j-NPSLE with CNS involvement than after resolution of NP features (respectively p = 0.0015 and p = 0.0010) upon immunosuppressive treatment in all patients tested (n = 10). Both biomarkers correlated strongly with each other (Rs = 0.832, p < 0.0001, n = 23 paired samples). CONCLUSION: CSF IFN-α and neopterin constitute promising biomarkers useful in the diagnosis and monitoring of activity in j-NPSLE.
Subject(s)
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic , Lupus Vasculitis, Central Nervous System , Humans , Child , Retrospective Studies , Neopterin , Neuroinflammatory Diseases , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/diagnosis , BiomarkersABSTRACT
Title: Microbiote et miARN intestinaux - Un couple d'acteurs star dans l'arthrite juvénile idiopathique ? Abstract: L'arthrite juvénile idiopathique (AJI) est une maladie inflammatoire chronique caractérisée par la présence d'une ou plusieurs arthrites (inflammations des articulations) chez l'enfant. Les mécanismes exacts responsables de son développement restent inconnus. Pour de nombreuses maladies inflammatoires, un dialogue altéré entre le microbiote intestinal et son hôte est un élément clé de leur physiopathologie. Les micro-ARN (miARN) fécaux, de petits ARN non codants synthétisés par l'hôte que l'on retrouve dans les fèces, semblent jouer un rôle important dans ce dialogue. Dans l'AJI, si la présence d'une dysbiose et d'une modification du profil des miARN présents dans le sang, dans les cellules et les articulations ont été établies, les spécificités des miARN fécaux des patients n'ont pas été étudiées. Nous discutons, dans cette revue, l'intérêt d'une étude concomitante des miARN fécaux et du microbiote intestinal ches les patients atteints d'AJI, un concept qui apparaît essentiel pour la compréhension de la physiopathologie de cette maladie.