Continuous decrease in serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in a neuropsychiatric syndrome of systemic lupus erythematosus patient with organic brain changes

Abstract

Atsuko Ikenouchi-Sugita, Reiji Yoshimura, Nobuhisa Ueda, Yuki Kodama, Wakako Umene-Nakano, Jun NakamuraDepartment of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, JapanAbstract: In the present study, the authors reported on a case in neuropsychiatric syndromes of systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) with irreversible organic brain changes. The authors also longitudinally investigated serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in the patient. We found that serum BDNF levels in the NPSLE patient with irreversible organic brain change were consistently low, independent of the severity of psychiatric symptoms. Thus, the longitudinal measurement of serum BDNF levels might be useful in predicting the prognosis of NPSLE.Keywords: brain-derived neurotrophic factor; neuropsychiatric syndrome of systemic lupus erythematosus; organic brain change