Prevalence and Clinical Importance of White Matter Lesions in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Juvenile

• Grant number: 10/11923-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2011
• End date: January 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Simone Appenzeller
• Grantee: Lucas Ferretti Silveira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 08/02917-0 - Blood and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers associated with structural and functional central nervous system abnormalities in systemic lupus erythematosus, AP.JP

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterized with periods of exacerbations and remissions. The clinical manifestations are diverse, including skin lesions, photosensitivity, oral ulcers, arthritis, serositis, renal and neurological, hematological and immunological abnormalities. MRI studies have shown that SLE patients exhibit structural and functional changes, occurring in white and gray matter.The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of white matter hyperintensities in patients with juvenile SLE followed at the pediatric rheumatology and to determine clinical and laboratory factors associated with its occurrence.