Abstract #1511

van As D, van Osch M, Emmer B, Huizinga T, Steens S, Steup-Beekman G, van der Grond J, van Buchem M, Wu O

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease mediated by antibodies. Up to 70 percent of SLE patients develop neuropsychiatric (NP) symptoms. It is still unknown whether NP symptoms in SLE are related to ischemia or to anti-neuronal antibodies. We determined brain perfusion parameters in NPSLE patients and compared them to values in control subjects. We applied bolus-tracking perfusion MR in 16 active and 26 inactive NPSLE patients and 11 controls. No significant differences in CBF or CBV were found. Our results do not suggest that widespread ischemia is involved in the etiology of NP symptoms of SLE patients.