PRESENCE OF ANTI-CARDIOLIPIN ANTIBODY AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH NEUROPSYCHIATRIC MANIFESTATIONS IN PAEDIATRIC SLE PATIENTS

Ali Hasan Farid, *Mohammad Imnul Islam, Mohammed Mahbubul Islam, Manik Kumar Talukder, Gopen kumar Kundu, Shahana Akhter Rahman

ABSTRACT

Background: Neuropsychiatric (NP) manifestation is one of the most critical and severe presentations in paediatric SLE (pSLE) patients. It comprises a wide range of neurological symptoms affecting the central, peripheral, autonomic nervous systems and psychiatric symptoms. One of the most intriguing issue is the association of neuropsychiatric manifestation with anti-cardiolipin (aCL) antibody. Objectives: To identify the anti-cardiolipin antibody frequency, its association with NP manifestations and MRI of brain findings in pSLE patients. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Paediatrics, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), from June 2017 to May 2018. Newly diagnosed 50 pSLE patients who fulfilled the ACR criteria were enrolled in this study. Clinical information and laboratory investigations, including aCL antibody were measured and recorded in a pre-designed questionnaire. MRI of the brain was also done in all NP-SLE cases. Result: Neuropsychiatric manifestations were found in 40% of pSLE patients. Headache, convulsion, and mood disorder were common NP manifestations. This study found that aCL antibody positivity was present in 52% of pSLE patients. Abnormal MRI findings were observed in 55% of NP-SLE patients and cerebral atrophy was the commonest abnormality. A significant association with aCL antibody and MRI findings was found. Conclusion: Anti-cardiolipin antibody was present in 52% of pSLE patients. Associations between NP manifestations with MRI findings was found significant.

Keywords: Anti-cardiolipin (aCL) antibody, Neuropsychiatric manifestation, paediatric SLE.