Cognitive dysfunction in neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus

Neuropsychiatric syndromes associated with systemic lupus erythematosus are common, but diverse in etiology and presentation. Cognitive dysfunction is prevalent among these syndromes, but exhibit a significant degree of heterogeneity both within and between patient variability. Earlier studies of SLE-associated cognitive dysfunction addressed its identification and description. Common associations were repeatedly acknowledged, including concomitant or past neuropsychiatric disease, use of corticosteroids, disease activity, emotional disturbance, and antiphospholipid antibodies. The past several years have focused more on elucidating the relative strengths of various risk associations, patterns of cognitive abnormalities, both cross-sectionally and longitudinally (ie, clinical course), and novel means to identify cognitive impairment, both functionally and biologically.(C) 2002 Lippincott Williams Wilkins, Inc.