About Lupus nephritis and neuropsychiatric lupus

Systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE, is a systemic autoimmune disease typically affecting women of reproductive age. However, men, children, and both pre- and post-menopausal women can also be affected. While there is a broad range of immunological abnormalities associated with lupus in both innate and adaptive immune responses, the most characteristic serologic feature is antibodies to nuclear antigens, in particular anti-double stranded DNA antibodies.

Clinically, lupus patients have involvement of multiple tissues and organs. Two common lupus manifestations of particular concern to patients and physicians are involvement of the central nervous system (aka neuropsychiatric lupus), and kidneys (aka lupus nephritis). While estimates of the percentage of lupus patients with primary central nervous system disease vary widely between studies, mood disorders and cognitive abnormalities are the most commonly reported phenotypes. Lupus nephritis affects 40-60% of lupus patients, and can progress to end stage renal disease without effective treatment. Both neuropsychiatric lupus and lupus nephritis adversely affect the prognosis and have a complicated pathogenesis, but current treatment is non-specific and does not fully address patient needs.

We welcome original contributions regarding the manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and management of human neuropsychiatric lupus and lupus nephritis. In vitro studies and animal models contributing insights into novel mechanistic pathways, treatment approaches, and biomarkers are encouraged as well.