The neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus biomarker landscape: what blood and cerebrospinal fluid analytes have been studied and how they performed? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

What was studied

This review looked at blood and spinal fluid markers in lupus. It aimed to tell lupus patients with brain or mind symptoms from those without. The search ran up to March 2024. Pooling was done where at least 5 studies existed. The review included 93 studies.

What they found

Few marker and fluid pairs met the rules for pooling. Most markers were tested in small, mixed studies. Spinal fluid IL-6 and MCP-1 were higher in NPSLE. Hedges g was 0.81 for IL-6. It was 0.66 for MCP-1. Odds of NPSLE were higher with some antibodies. The odds ratio was 2.68 for anti-ribosomal P. It was 2.09 for anti-NR2. It was 2.36 for IgG anticardiolipin.

What it means for patients

The authors say spinal fluid markers help tell NPSLE from other lupus. They say these markers are not specific. They are also hard to get in routine care. They say serum antibodies show modest results for diagnosis.

Why it is not certain yet

The evidence is fragmented. Assays, cutoffs and case definitions varied. In CNS infections, levels were often similar or higher. The authors call for harmonized multicenter studies.

Source

The neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus biomarker landscape: what blood and cerebrospinal fluid analytes have been studied and how they performed? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

We restate facts from the source record in our own words. The original wording belongs to its publisher.