Role of susceptibility weighted imaging and evoked potential studies in early detection of neuropsychiatric manifestations in the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Background: Central nervous system involvement in SLE as a part of neuropsychiatric lupus is a complex diagnostic entity due to its multiple clinical presentations. Objective: This study aimed to assess the value of susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) and neurophysiological assessment on 30 patients with SLE in order to determine the value in the early diagnosis and management of neurological manifestation of lupus. Materials and methods: Thirty patients with ACR criteria for SLE are involved in this study. Antiphospholipid antibodies, SWI, and evoked response studies were used to assess neurological involvement in SLE. Results: Eighteen patients presented with clinical neurological manifestations attributed to neurological lupus. Abnormal SWI findings were found in 16 patients. 11 SLE patients were positive for antiphospholipid. 17 patients presented with abnormal neurophysiological parameters. No correlation between individual neurophysiological disorders (NPD) and specific neuropsychiatric symptoms was observed. There was no significant correlation between the electro physiologic findings and SLE related auto antibodies. Conclusions: SWI and neurophysiological studies may provide a useful test in the evaluation and management of early neurological lupus.