Cognitive Impairment in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Population-Based Neuropsychological Study.

We present a cross-sectional, population-based neuropsychological study of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients identified within Tampere University Hospital district, Finland with 440,000 inhabitants. patients with definite SLE in the age range of 16-65 years (n+46) and matched controls (n=46) underwent neurological examination and comprehensive neuropsychological testing. On the basis of medical examination, the SLE patients were divided into neuropsychiatric (MP +; n=15) and nonneuropsychiatric (NP-;n=31) cases. The neuropsychological test results revealed more prevalent cognitive impairment in the NP+ patients, indicating that this subgroup mostly accounts for neuropsychological changes in SLE. Most characteristic changes in NP+ were observed in domains of memory, psychomotor speed, and complex attention. This suggests nonspecific CNS Involvement, which is in line with neurological manifestations of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]