Raised serum S100B protein levels in neuropsychiatric lupus

• Published in: Annals of the rheumatic diseases Vol. 65; no. 6; pp. 829 - 831
• Main Authors: Schenatto, C B, Xavier, R M, Bredemeier, M, Portela, L V C, Tort, A B L, Dedavid e Silva, T L, Souza, D O, Brenol, J C T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and European League Against Rheumatism 01.06.2006; BMJ; Elsevier Limited; BMJ Group
• Subjects: Adult; Antibodies; Antibodies, Anticardiolipin - blood; Antibodies, Antinuclear - blood; BDI; Beck Depression Inventory; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Case-Control Studies; Cerebrovascular disease; Concise Report; confidence interval; Dermatology; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Female; HCPA; Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre; Humans; interquartile range; IQR; Lupus; Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor - blood; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - blood; Lupus Vasculitis, Central Nervous System - blood; Lupus Vasculitis, Central Nervous System - diagnosis; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mini-Mental State Examination; MMSE; Nerve Growth Factors - blood; Nervous system; neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus; NPSLE; Prospective Studies; Proteins; Psychosis; Rheumatology; ROC Curve; S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit; S100 Proteins - blood; S100B protein; Sensitivity and Specificity; Skin involvement in other diseases. Miscellaneous. General aspects; SLE; SLEDAI; systemic lupus erythematosus; Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index; Lupus; Serum; Skin disease; Protein; Rheumatology
• ISSN: 0003-4967; 1468-2060
• DOI: 10.1136/ard.2005.048330

Objective: To test serum S100B protein levels in patients with and without neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) and controls. Methods: 87 patients with SLE, 23 with and 64 without neuropsychiatric involvement, and 25 control subjects were prospectively evaluated. NPSLE diagnosis was made according to the American College of Rheumatology nomenclature and case definitions for neuropsychiatric lupus syndromes. Serum S100B protein levels were determined with a luminescence immunoassay. Statistical analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results: Among the patients with NPSLE, 9 presented psychosis; 4, cranial neuropathy; 3, cerebrovascular disease; 1, seizures; 1, chorea; 1, peripheral polyneuropathy; 1, multiplex mononeuropathy; 3, dementia. Serum concentrations of S100B protein were significantly higher in patients with NPSLE (median 0.164 ng/ml, interquartile range 0.113–0.332) than in non-NPSLE patients (0.062 ng/ml, 0.026–0.109) and controls (0.088 ng/ml, 0.013–0.124) (p<0.001). Patients with anti-dsDNA antibodies had higher S100B protein levels (p = 0.001). No significant associations were found of lupus activity (among non-NPSLE cases), antiphospholipid antibodies, and reduced complement levels with S100B concentration. Conclusions: Serum S100B protein level is raised in NPSLE, reflecting continuing neurological damage. The association of anti-dsDNA antibodies with higher S100B protein concentration deserves further study.