Inglese F, Jaarsma-Coes MG, Steup-Beekman GM, et al. - This prospective cohort study was conducted with the aim to establish the possible value of advanced white matter hyperintensity (WMH) markers on brain MRI in assessing underlying mechanisms and in determining the diagnosis of different phenotypes of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients experiencing neuropsychiatric (NP) manifestations.

• A total of 155 patients were studied, that consisted of 38 patients with NPSLE (26 inflammatory and 12 ischemic phenotype) and 117 non-NPSLE patients.

• Findings revealed a higher periventricular/confluent WMH volume and more complex shape of WMH among patients with NPSLE vs those with non-NPSLE.

• Inflammatory NPLSE patients particularly showed this finding significantly, indicating different or more severe underlying pathophysiological abnormalities.