Pediatric Rheumatology Unit Reports Findings in Lupus (Brain 18 F-FDG PET reveals cortico-subcortical hypermetabolic dysfunction in juvenile neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus).

A recent study conducted in Milan, Italy, explored the use of PET-FDG imaging to identify metabolic dysfunction in juvenile neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (j-NPSLE). The study involved 11 patients with j-NPSLE who underwent PET-MRI exams. The results showed a robust bilateral cortico-subcortical hypermetabolic network, particularly in the thalamus, in patients with j-NPSLE. The researchers concluded that further studies with larger cohorts are needed to determine the potential of this dysfunctional pattern as a biomarker for j-NPSLE. [Extracted from the article]