Thalamic atrophy and mood changes in juvenile systemic erythematosus lupus (SEL)

The thalamus is a neuroanatomic structure that performs many connections with the cerebral cortex and limbic structures. It is associated with sensorial, motor, emotional and motivational processes. In juvenile Systemic Erythematosus Lupus (SEL), the casualty and the diversity of neuropsychiatric symptoms are not fully established. The objective of this work is to evaluate the existence of structural changes in thalamus and its relation to depression, anxiety, and cognitive impairment in juvenile SEL. We concluded there is a reduction in thalamus volume in SLE and that reduction may contribute with the neuropsychiatric manifestations