Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Alterations in the DTI-ALPS index and choroid plexus volume as brain–immune interfacing indicators in neuropsychiatric lupus erythematosus with inflammatory phenotype
Authors' conclusion
In conclusion, the DTI-ALPS index and CP volume demonstrate significant potential as neuroimaging biomarkers for NPSLE.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with SLE (non-NPSLE, inflammatory neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE), ischaemic NPSLE) and healthy controls157 SLE patients and 60 healthy controls (HCs)
- Participants
- 57 / 57 / 43 / 60
- Exposure
- Inflammatory NPSLE vs ischaemic NPSLE vs non-NPSLE vs HCs
- Non-NPSLEn = 57
- Inflammatory NPSLEn = 57
- Ischaemic NPSLEn = 43
- HCsn = 60reference
- Outcome
- DTI-ALPS index, CP volume and perivascular space (PVS) volume across NPSLE subtypes
Methodological detailsanalysis of covariance, ROC curve analysis
- Analysis of covariance
- ROC curve analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
DTI-ALPS index
- DTI-ALPS index significantly reduced in NPSLE vs HCs and non-NPSLE, particularly in inflammatory subtypes; left: F=10.924
- p<0.001
- DTI-ALPS index, right: F=5.110
- p=0.017
- Choroid plexus (CP) volume significantly higher in SLE than HCs; left: F=22.273
- p<0.001
- CP volume, right: F=21.176
- p<0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Combined DTI-ALPS index and CP volume to distinguish non-NPSLE from NPSLE and from inflammatory NPSLE (ROC)
- AUC, left
- 0.764
- AUC, right
- 0.728
- Moderate diagnostic accuracy
Correlations of DTI-ALPS index
- With ipsilateral CP volume, left: r=−0.315
- P < 0.001
- With Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores, left: r=0.339
- P < 0.001
Original publication
Alterations in the DTI-ALPS index and choroid plexus volume as brain–immune interfacing indicators in neuropsychiatric lupus erythematosus with inflammatory phenotype. Lupus Sci Med. Published 28 January 2026. doi:10.
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