Clinical Risk Assessment of Cognitive Function in Systemic Autoimmune Diseases

Objectives: Systemic autoimmune diseases are chronic diseases characterized by chronic inflammation, vasculopathy, and autoimmune phenomena. Several organ involvements are typical, including the central nervous system. Formerly published investigations emphasize a mild cognitive impairment affecting attention, memory, and complicated solution tasks. However, these symptoms significantly impact patients' routines and quality of life. The study examined the associations between cognitive impairment and clinical parameters regarding systemic autoimmune diseases.

Methods: General clinical data, some serum biomarkers including CCl-18, YKL-40, COMP, VEGF, Galectin-3, and Pentraxin as well as results of functional, quality of life, and neuropsychological measures, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Digit Span Forward-Backward, the Trail making A, B and the Digit Symbol tests all were administered.