Mathematical processing is affected by daily but not cumulative glucocorticoid dose in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVES: The impact of glucocorticoids on neurocognitive performance in patients with SLE is not fully addressed. We aimed to study the effect of daily and cumulative glucocorticoid dose on neurocognitive performance in SLE patients. METHODS: Consecutive SLE patients and gender- and age-matched healthy controls (HCs) underwent the computer-based Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Matric (ANAM), which evaluates eight neurocognitive domains including learning, recall, visual perception, mental rotation, short-term memory, attention, sustained attention and working memory. The total and individual-domain throughput scores (TPSs) and the presence of cognitive dysfunction (total TPS 9 mg daily remained independently associated with lower mathematical-processing TPSs (P = 0.031). CONCLUSION: Daily prednisolone dose >/=9 mg, but not cumulative glucocorticoid dose, had an independent negative impact on mathematical processing in SLE patients.