Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Can conventional brain MRI support the attribution process in neuropsychiatric SLE? A multicentre retrospective study
Authors' conclusion
Our study elucidates the role of conventional MRI findings in the attribution process in NPSLE. The presence of selected elementary lesions or, instead, their absence could have a relevant weight in assessing NP events.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with SLE (1999–2018) undergoing brain MRI at their first neuropsychiatric (NP) event, four tertiary SLE centres
- Exposure
- SLE-attributed vs non-attributed NP events, by MRI elementary lesions
- SLE-attributed (clinical judgement (CJ))n = 88
- SLE-attributed (attribution algorithm (AA))n = 85
- Outcome
- Association of MRI elementary lesions with attribution of NP manifestations to SLE by CJ and AA
- Follow-up
- First NP event
Methodological detailsmulticentre, four tertiary SLE centres, univariable and multivariable logistic regression, sensitivity analysis with revised AA
- Multicentre
- Four tertiary SLE centres
- Univariable and multivariable logistic regression
- Sensitivity analysis with revised AA
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Estimate (95% CI)
Normal MRIattribution per CJ; normal MRI more common in non-attributed events
OR 0.42(0.21–0.82)
Normal MRIattribution per AA; normal MRI more common in non-attributed events
OR 0.27(0.13–0.52)
Cerebral atrophyattribution per CJ; more frequent in non-attributed events
aOR 0.06(0.01–0.35)
Inflammatory-type lesionsattribution per AA; more prevalent in SLE-attributed events
OR 3.91(1.15–18.1)
Each row per its own increment, as printed
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
MRI findings in all patients
- Normal MRI
- 57/154 (37%)
- T2/FLAIR hyperintense lesions (most frequent finding)
- 71/154, 46%
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
Can conventional brain MRI support the attribution process in neuropsychiatric SLE? A multicentre retrospective study. Lupus Sci Med. Published 28 April 2025. doi:10.
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