Characteristics of selected cognitive functions in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus using Cambridge neuropsychological test automated battery

Abstract

Introduction

Cognitive dysfunction in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus affects 10–36% of them.

Objective

To determine a profile of selected cognitive functions in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The aim

To investigate and characterize selected cognitive parameters in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) using a standardized, comparable and reproducible computer-based method.

Material and methods

The study included 25 patients with SLE. For neuropsychological assessment, the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery was used. Following parameters were investigated: mean latency and mean error in motor screening (MOTML, MOTME), big little circle (BLC), paired associated learning (PAL), problems solved in minimum moves in stockings of Cambridge (SOC PSMM) and graded naming test (GNT). Results were referred automatically to determined ranges of norms matched according to age and gender.

Results

In patients with SLE results displayed by median and upper and lower quartiles were as follows: MOTML = 1.1 (0.9–1.34), MOTME = 0.41 (0.31–0.52), BLC = 0.16 (0.16–0.18), PAL = −0.43 (−1.28; −0.18), SOCPSMM = −0.62 (−1.19–0.04), and GNT = −0.8 (−1.6; −0.32).

MOTML correlated negatively with MOTME (r = −0.51), MOTME correlated with SOCPSMM (r = 0.41), and PAL correlated with GNT (r = 0.48) (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

In our study, predominant abnormalities were those related to lexical and semantic memory, revealed by the GNT, spatial planning and spatial working memory, assessed by the SOC, together with visual memory and new learning, assessed with the PAL.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.