This study was conducted to explore hippocampal structural changes and their possible associations with clinical characteristics, emotional status, and treatment regimens in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) without major neuropsychiatric manifestations (non-NPSLE). Eighty-five non-NPSLE patients with normal conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and seventy-seven matched healthy control (HC) subjects were recruited. All participants underwent the standard high-resolution volumetric MRI. The bilateral hippocampal volume (HIPV) and hippocampal density (HIPD) were calculated, respectively, for each participant. We found that the bilateral HIPV and HIPD of the SLE patient group were significantly less than those of the HC group. The bilateral HIPV of female patients were significantly less than those of male patients. The SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) was negatively correlated with the bilateral HIPV and the right HIPD. Urine protein quantity was negatively correlated with the bilateral HIPV and HIPD. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) showed a protective effect on right HIPV. In conclusion, we found that the early hippocampal atrophy could occur before obvious neuropsychiatric manifestations and might be associated with SLE disease activity and organ damages. Early detection and intervention of hippocampal damage might prevent the progression to NPSLE. More studies are needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms of hippocampal atrophy in SLE.

中文翻译：

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没有重大神经精神病学表现的系统性红斑狼疮患者的海马萎缩。

这项研究旨在探讨无主要神经精神病学表现（非NPSLE）的系统性红斑狼疮（SLE）患者的海马结构变化及其与临床特征，情绪状态和治疗方案的可能关联。招募了八十五名常规常规磁共振成像（MRI）正常的非NPSLE患者和七十七名匹配的健康对照（HC）受试者。所有参与者均接受了标准的高分辨率容积MRI。每个参与者分别计算了双侧海马体积（HIPV）和海马密度（HIPD）。我们发现SLE患者组的双侧HIPV和HIPD显着低于HC组。女性患者的双侧HIPV明显低于男性患者。SLE疾病活动指数（SLEDAI）与双侧HIPV和右HIPD呈负相关。尿蛋白量与双侧HIPV和HIPD呈负相关。羟氯喹（HCQ）对右侧HIPV有保护作用。总之，我们发现早期海马萎缩可能发生在明显的神经精神病学表现之前，并且可能与SLE疾病活动和器官损伤有关。早期发现和干预海马损伤可能会阻止其发展为NPSLE。需要更多的研究来充分了解SLE中海马萎缩的潜在机制。羟氯喹（HCQ）对右侧HIPV有保护作用。总之，我们发现早期海马萎缩可能发生在明显的神经精神病学表现之前，并且可能与SLE疾病活动和器官损伤有关。早期发现和干预海马损伤可能会阻止其发展为NPSLE。需要更多的研究来充分了解SLE中海马萎缩的潜在机制。羟氯喹（HCQ）对右侧HIPV有保护作用。总之，我们发现早期海马萎缩可能发生在明显的神经精神病学表现之前，并且可能与SLE疾病活动和器官损害有关。早期发现和干预海马损伤可能会阻止其发展为NPSLE。需要更多的研究来充分了解SLE中海马萎缩的潜在机制。