Role of Antibodies in Cognitive Dysfunction in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

March 3, 2008 updated by: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

Role of the Antibody Against NR2 Glutamate Receptor in Cognitive Dysfunction in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

This study will examine the possible relationship between certain antibodies found in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and cognitive (thought processing) impairment in these patients. Antibodies are proteins produced by cells of the immune system to fight foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses. In autoimmune diseases like SLE, however, the immune system produces antibodies against the body's own healthy tissues. Antibodies targeting the brain may cause cognitive dysfunction. Many patients with SLE have mild to severe cognitive impairment involving, for example, short- or long-term memory, thought processing and relating objects in time and space.

Patients 18 years of age and older with SLE may be eligible for this study. Participants will undergo the following tests and procedures:

  • Medical history and physical examination, including blood and urine tests
  • Psychiatric interview and questionnaire to assess depression
  • Neuropsychological tests - answering questions given by an examiner or filling out a test form or questionnaire
  • Tests of cognitive function - answering questions given by an automated computer program or performing tasks using a computer mouse
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain - a test that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to generate images of the brain. The patient lies still on a stretcher inside a cylinder containing a magnetic field. The patient's head is stabilized with a plastic strap and foam pads. During the imaging, a substance called gadolinium-DTPA is injected into an arm vein through a catheter (thin plastic tube). This substance is used to enhance the images.

Patients may also be asked to undergo an optional procedure called a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to examine the relationship between cognitive impairment and the amount of antibodies in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)- fluid that circulates around the brain and spinal cord. For this procedure a small area of skin on the lower back is numbed with a local anesthetic. A needle is then inserted in the space between the bones in the lower back, and about 2 tablespoons of CSF is withdrawn through the needle.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Detailed Description

Cognitive dysfunction is common in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), observed in as many as two-thirds of patients. Cognitive dysfunction of long duration or with deterioration can have a significant impact on occupational functioning of SLE patients and also compromise compliance to treatment.

The pathogenesis of cognitive dysfunction in SLE patients is likely multifactorial, including vascular origin, direct neuronal damage due to autoantibodies or cytokines, metabolic effects, or effects of certain medications. More than one half of SLE patients have anti-DNA antibodies, and it was recently demonstrated that a subset of anti-DNA antibodies cross-reacts with a pentapeptide consensus sequence (residues 283-287) of the human N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor NR2a and NR2b subunits and can cause excitotoxic death of neurons. NMDA receptors are important in memory function and learning, and thus such antibodies may mediate cognitive dysfunction in SLE.

In this cross-sectional study, up to 60 patients with SLE may be enrolled. Participants will undergo neuropsychological testing, neuroimaging studies, and blood tests for antibody with the reactivity to the pentapeptide consensus sequence of the human NMDA receptor NR2a and NR2b subunits (anti-pentapeptide Ab).

The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the association between cognitive dysfunction and serum anti-pentapeptide Ab. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will be performed for evaluation of potentially confounding central nervous system (CNS) disease such as cerebral infarction, and of blood brain barrier breakdown by employing gadolinium enhancement. Furthermore, in participants who agree, a lumbar puncture will be performed and cerebrospinal fluid will be obtained for preliminary evaluation of the intrathecal levels of the anti-pentapeptide Ab associated with cognitive dysfunction.

If the anti-pentapeptide Ab is associated with cognitive dysfunction, therapeutic interventions via NR2 receptor blockade or the blockade of the anti-pentapeptide Ab may be considered in a future study.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment

61

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Maryland
      • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
        • National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

INCLUSION CRITERIA

18 years of age or greater.

Must be willing and able to provide informed consent.

Have fulfilled the 1997 updated American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for SLE.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

History of neurologic diseases including head injury resulting in loss of consciousness, strokes, seizures, toxic exposure.

History of clinically documented transient ischemic attacks within 6 months of screening visit.

Currently taking anticonvulsant agents

Limited familiarity with English that, in the opinion of the investigator, would limit participants' performance on neuropsychological tests.

Any clinically significant medical condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would pose added risk for study participants.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

July 1, 2002

Study Completion

January 1, 2005

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 31, 2002

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 31, 2002

First Posted (Estimate)

August 1, 2002

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

March 4, 2008

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 3, 2008

Last Verified

January 1, 2005

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 020267
  • 02-AR-0267

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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