We explored the link between iron accumulation and neuroinflammation in basal ganglia in SLE using quantitative susceptibility mapping. We hypothesized that SLE patients, and in particular NPSLE patients would have increased numbers of activated microglia co-localizing with iron, which in turn would be reflected in increased local susceptibility. Based on QSM results in patients, as well as on iron staining of post-mortem SLE brain tissue, our results suggest that neuroinflammation in NPSLE is not necessarily associated with iron accumulation, and that the inflammatory pathomechanism in SLE may differ from the one observed in neurodegenerative diseases and in multiple sclerosis.
This abstract and the presentation materials are available to members only; a login is required.