Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Primary headache in SLE –systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors' conclusion
Patients with lupus seem to have a similar prevalence of primary headaches, and specifically migraines, compared to healthy controls. These primary headaches are associated with depression and Raynaud phenomenon and not with disease activity nor damage.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with lupus; studies on primary headaches published 2004 and later11 papers
- Comparison
- SLE vs healthy controls; SLE vs rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS)
- Outcome
- Overall prevalence of primary headaches, and specifically migraines, in patients with lupus
Methodological detailsPRISMA guidelines, four databases searched from inception until 4/2022, papers published in 2004 and later only, publication bias assessed using funnel plots, 5096 references identified, 189 selected for detailed review, 11 included
- PRISMA guidelines
- Four databases searched from inception until 4/2022
- Papers published in 2004 and later only
- Publication bias assessed using funnel plots
- 5096 references identified, 189 selected for detailed review, 11 included
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Pooled prevalence of primary headaches in lupus
Lupus
26.8 %
95% CI 25.1–28.6
Further pooled results
- Prevalence of "lupus headaches" (SLEDAI-2K definition; SLICC cohort, one study) — SLE
- 1.5 %
Risk factors for primary headaches
- Associated with depression and impaired health related quality of life rather than lupus activity or damage
- One study suggested HCQ reduced frequency of primary headaches
- Raynaud phenomenon associated with migraines
Brain MRI volumes and headache (one study, SLE vs healthy controls)
- Larger gray matter volume, odds of headache in general: OR 0.98
- P = 0.048
- Larger gray matter volume, odds of migraine: OR 0.95
- P = 0.004
- Larger white matter volume, odds of migraine: OR 1.04
- P = 0.007
- Findings might reflect disease activity or damage
Original publication
Primary headache in SLE –systematic review and meta-analysis. Semin Arthritis Rheum. Published 28 October 2024. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →