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RheumThoughts: CNS Lupus (NPSLE)

jjcush@gmail.com
May 29, 2025 10:05 am

29 yr. old woman with SLE and transverse myelitis. Is this NPSLE; how to diagnose?

Features Dr. Jack Cush

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khaledmohi

| Jun 08, 2025 10:52 am

sir you said that BBB disrubtion is due to infection but in book 2025 dupbos lupus page 591 said that BBB disrubtion is due to NPSLE DIFFUSE OR FOCAL OOOOH WHAT IS THE CORRECT

Sorry for the delay in response. In my study and experience, less than 50% of SLE pts w/ NP-SLE will have BBB disruption - as measured by the Q albumin. But heres the point to remember. An intact BBB has a Q albumin under 9. Over 9 there is some disruption; In NP-SLE the Q albumin abnormalities indicate mildly affected BBB with a Q albumin of 9-15 (in <50%). This is very different from CNS infection (meningitis, encephalomyelitis) or vascular event/vasculitis where the Q albumin values are very very high, often 50-200. I hope this rectifies the difference between what I said and what Dubois Textbook claims

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Disclosures
The author has no conflicts of interest to disclose related to this subject
Jack Cush, MD (5 Posts)
Dr. Cush is the Executive Editor of RheumNow.com and also Co-Edits the online textbook RheumaKnowledgy.com. 
  
Dr. Cush's interests include medical education, novel drug development, rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, drug safety, and Still's disease/autoinflammatory syndromes. He has published over 140 articles and 2 books in rheumatology.
 
He can be followed on twitter: @RheumNow
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