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Abstract #2861

Dynamic Contrast Enhancement in a Mouse Model of Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Mark E. Wagshul1, Jing Wen2, Roman Fleysher3, Ariel Stock2, Craig A. Branch4, Chaim Putterman5

1Radiology, Gruss MRRC, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States; 2Microbiology & Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States; 3Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine , Bronx, NY, United States; 4Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States; 5Medicine and Microbiology & Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States


Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is one of the earliest manifestations in human lupus, and occurs in 60% of SLE patients. Major NPSLE symptoms in both human patients and in mouse models of the disease include mood disorders (especially depression) and cognitive dysfunction. However, the mechanisms of NPSLE are not fully understood. The purpose of this paper was to investigate early development of compromise of the blood brain barrier using dynamic contrast enhanced MRI in a mouse model of SLE. We show changes in gadolinium uptake in the hypothalamus as early as 9-10 weeks.