Management of Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Current Approaches and Future Perspectives

Symptomatic Therapy

The management of patients with NPSLE is multimodal. In several NPSLE syndromes, symptomatic therapy is needed. In SLE patients with mood disorders, psychosis, seizure disorders, movement disorders, and headaches, current drugs used to treat these symptoms are often the first treatment step, without taking into account NPSLE as the potential underlying cause. In mild NP manifestations, this symptomatic therapy can be sufficient; however, more severe NPSLE manifestations or inadequate response to symptomatic treatment warrants additional therapy with immunosuppressive and/or antithrombotic medication.

Antidepressive and antipsychotic agents, as well as anxiolytics, are prescribed according to the standard indications in psychiatric disorders. Antiepileptic therapy is started when high-risk features are present: second seizure (>24 h after the first event), serious brain injury, brain structural abnormalities (MRI), focal neurological signs, partial seizure as the first seizure, and epileptiform EEG discharges. Generalized seizures are usually managed with phenytoin or barbiturates, and partial complex seizures are usually managed with carbamazepine, clonazepam, valproic acid, or gabapentin. Symptomatic therapy in movement disorders consists of dopamine agonists. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be added for symptomatic pain relief and migraine treatment for specific headaches [38, 48].

Nonpharmacological Intervention

Cognitive complaints in SLE patients are common, with most studies reporting a prevalence ranging from 17 to 66 % [26]; however, most cases of cognitive dysfunction are mild and immunosuppressive therapy is not indicated in these patients. Cognitive dysfunction has been associated with psychosocial factors such as fatigue, sleep deprivation, pain, depression, and anxiety. No consistent evidence-based symptomatic therapy exists for cognitive dysfunction in SLE. It has been reported that some patients with depression and cognitive dysfunction may benefit from antidepressants [49]. In patients who reported cognitive dysfunction but were not globally impaired on neuropsychological testing, the positive effects of an 8-week psychoeducational group intervention were reported to improve memory self-efficacy, memory function, and the ability to perform daily activities [50]. A study evaluating a 6-month psychoeducational group intervention in a group of 34 SLE patients also resulted in a significant and sustained improvement in coping skills of SLE patients and hence in their quality of life [51].

Antimalarial Drugs

Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are 4-aminoquinolines, and quinacrine is an acridine derivative. The use of antimalarials as a treatment for SLE became popular after reports were first published in the 1950s [52]. Nowadays, the prescription of hydroxychloroquine (200 or 400 mg/day) is considered mandatory in the treatment of SLE, and is recommended during the whole course of the disease, independently of severity, and even continued during pregnancy. This therapy is extensively used for cutaneous and musculoskeletal involvement [38, 53]. Widespread use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine led to recognition of retinal toxicity as the most frequent complication. Quinacrine differs from hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine in that it has no recognized retinal toxicity. Other known but uncommon antimalarial side effects are dermatitis, gastrointestinal symptoms, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, aplastic anemia and cardiotoxicity [54]. Moreover, these drugs are also known as a rare cause of psychosis, and chloroquine has been associated with the occurrence of epileptic seizures in patients with a history of epilepsy [55, 56]. Although no studies specifically address its effect on NP symptoms, a preventive role of these drugs in CNS lupus has been suggested, especially in cerebrovascular disease [46, 57].

A reduction of mortality in multiple SLE cohorts, and reduced accrual of damage, was shown in SLE patients treated with antimalarials [58]. Moreover, several studies using antimalarials have demonstrated that immunologic effects can reduce the risk of CVD, such as improvement of dyslipidemias, prevention of diabetes, and reducing aPL titers [59–62]. In an SLE cohort study of 1150 patients, antimalarials had an independent protective effect on the development of metabolic syndrome over time, showing its potential as an atheroprotective drug in these patients [63].

Antithrombotic effect is another known additional benefit of antimalarials. Jung et al. demonstrated how antimalarial drugs were associated with a 68 % reduction in the risk of all thrombovascular events in SLE [64]. Other prospective SLE studies have also found a positive effect of hydroxychloroquine on reducing the risk of future thrombotic events [60, 65].

Another potential benefit attributed to antimalarial drugs in SLE is the protective effect against seizures, such as was reported in the LUMINA cohort [66]. Recently, another cohort study on 1631 SLE patients has confirmed this association. The mechanism of how the protection occurs is unknown [67].

Statins

Statins act by competitive inhibition of the hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase enzyme, blocking the transformation of HMG-CoA into mevalonate and subsequently inhibiting cholesterol synthesis [68]. This therapy is used extensively to treat hypercholesterolemia. A reduction in levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol have demonstrated a marked benefit in the prevention of CVD and a dramatic reduction of morbidity and mortality in established CVD [68, 69].

Some immunomodulating effects, such as reduction of inflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules, prevention of endothelial cell activation induced by aPL, inhibition of T-cell function, and reduction of the number and activity of inflammatory cells in atherosclerotic plaque have been attributed to statins [68, 70, 71]. Statins may improve the regulation of the inflammatory processes involved in atherosclerosis [72].

All these properties have been reported to be of interest in SLE since this disease is associated with an increased risk of accelerated atherosclerosis not fully explained by traditional risk factors [35]. For some authors, SLE is considered a coronary heart disease risk factor equivalent to diabetes. It has been proposed that as the 10-year cardiovascular risk charts do not take lupus into account as a risk factor, it results in undertreatment of these patients. Based on this, Elliot and Manzi, as well as other authors, have proposed an LDL goal of <100 mg/dl in all SLE patients and <70 mg/dl for those SLE patients with subclinical CVD, known stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) or other cardiovascular event, peripheral vascular disease, or diabetes [73, 74]. However, to date no studies have demonstrated the efficacy of statin therapy as primary or secondary cardiovascular prevention in SLE patients. The Lupus Atherosclerosis Prevention Study, a 2-year trial of atorvastatin in 200 adult patients with SLE without clinical CVD, showed no benefit in the primary (coronary artery calcium) or secondary (carotid intima media thickness and carotid plaque) atherosclerosis outcomes [75]. The APPLE trial, a recently published 3-year prospective study on pediatric SLE, reported no benefit of atorvastatin use on preclinical CVD markers [76].

From our point of view, and as other authors have pointed out, the lack of evidence does not support the widespread use of statins in all SLE patients as primary prevention. Subsequently, they recommend the use of statins in SLE patients with hyperlipidemia who meet criteria for their use based on standard CVD guidelines such as the National Cholesterol Education Program [77]. Furthermore, SLE patients with a stroke or TIA presumed to be of atherosclerotic origin must be treated according to the use of the American Stroke Association Guidelines. The use of statins is recommended in these patients when the LDL cholesterol level is ≥100 mg/dL. Statin therapy may also be considered when the LDL cholesterol level is <100 mg/dL, but with less levels of evidence [78].

Corticosteroids

Glucocorticoids are 21-carbon steroid hormones. The biological effects of glucocorticoids are mediated via the glucocorticoid receptor. These hormones are involved in the regulation of the immune response and inflammation, and also play an important role in various metabolic processes. Glucocorticoids, especially prednisone, have been the hallmark medication for SLE. This therapy offers the most immediate anti-inflammatory effect of all immunosuppressive therapies and is subsequently the more widely used therapy to control mild–severe flares of SLE. The basis for the use of different dosages of glucocorticoids in a specific clinical setting in SLE is essentially empirical [79]. Glucocorticoids are also known to induce an important number of undesirable side effects, including, among others, hypertension, dyslipidemia, osteoporosis, cataracts, glaucoma, electrolyte alteration, diabetes, Cushing’s syndrome, peptic ulcer, risk of infection, and reactivation of latent viruses. Overall, prolonged application is a high-risk factor for these side effects, whereas total dose is of secondary importance [80]. Furthermore, several NP disturbances have been related to the use of glucocorticoids. For example, approximately 10 % of patients treated with 1 mg/kg/day or more of prednisone will have a glucocorticoid-induced psychiatric disease. Depression, hypomania, and overt psychosis are known glucocorticoid-induced psychiatric manifestations. Symptoms usually occur within 8 weeks of initiation or augmentation of glucocorticoids and resolve completely in most cases through dose reduction, which may help in the differentiation with NPSLE [81].

In NPSLE patients, although corticosteroids are commonly used when NPSLE is thought to reflect an inflammatory process, this practice can only be substantiated by clinical experience [38]. Despite the lack of solid evidence, in severe NPSLE manifestations an accepted practice consists of 1 g of methylprednisolone intravenously for 3 consecutive days followed by prednisolone orally (starting dose 1 mg/kg/day), with a tapering scheme of 3–12 months. In less severe manifestations, the starting dose is usually 0.5–1 mg/kg/day, and tapering schemes are very diverse.

Although the benefits of glucocorticoids in an acute setting are unquestionable, some studies have addressed the important influence of corticosteroids, especially prolonged use, on future damage accrual in SLE patients [82–84]. Glucocorticoids may aggravate underlying metabolic abnormalities and other factors contributing to the risk of clinical accelerated atherosclerosis, which may lead to early cerebrovascular disease. Zonana-Nacach et al. showed how each 2-month exposure to high-dose prednisone was associated with a 1.2-fold increase in the risk of stroke in SLE [82]. Other authors have suggested that doses <7.5 mg/day, as well as methylprednisolone pulses, may not be associated with damage accrual [83].

Cyclophosphamide

As an alkylating agent, cyclophosphamide adds an alkyl group to DNA, thereby interfering with DNA replication. Cyclophosphamide is a prodrug that is converted by liver cytochrome 450 enzymes to its metabolite 4-hydroxy cyclophosphamide. Both the dose and duration of therapy will influence the degree of inhibition of immune function. Cyclophosphamide is used for the most serious SLE involvements [85]. In SLE patients, cyclophosphamide is mostly administered in an intermittent intravenous schedule instead of oral treatment. This was established by two trials performed at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) [86, 87]. The so-called NIH regimen has been used for decades in severe SLE flares. This regimen consists of monthly (for 6 months) and then quarterly (for up to 1 year after complete remission) doses of 0.75–1.5 g/m² intravenous cyclophosphamide, combined with intravenous methylprednisolone. In order to minimize the side effects of this drug, low-dose intravenous regimens (six fortnightly pulses of a fixed dose of 500 mg) were later introduced in patients with lupus nephritis. Ten-year follow-up data of the Euro-Lupus Nephritis Trial comparing both doses of cyclophosphamide showed that this low-dose protocol achieved results comparable to the NIH regimen [88].

Cyclophosphamide has significant side effects. Common complications are alopecia, nausea and vomiting, and bone marrow depression. Although severe myelotoxicity is rare, myelosuppression consisting primarily of leukopenia is probably the most significant of the cyclophosphamide-induced toxicities. Leukopenia and granulocytopenia increase the patient’s risk of infection [89, 90]. Other organ-specific toxicities of cyclophosphamide are hemorrhagic cystitis, cardiotoxicity, interstitial pneumonitis, pulmonary fibrosis, and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia [91]. Azoospermia and ovarian failure are also well-documented consequences of long-term therapy. The latter association is largely dependent on its cumulative dose, and the effect is stronger with the patient’s increasing age [92, 93].

Severe NPSLE manifestations, mainly CNS involvement, have been treated with cyclophosphamide. Several case series have described positive effects of treatment with cyclophosphamide in severe NPSLE manifestations in both adults and children [94, 95]. A report from Mok et al. demonstrated a favorable response of 13 patients with lupus psychosis to 6 months of treatment with oral cyclophosphamide (1–2 mg/kg/day) and oral prednisone (1 mg/kg/day), with the dose tapered gradually, followed by azathioprine (1–2 mg/kg/day) [96]. A retrospective study of 31 NPSLE patients suggested patients benefited from concomitant glucocorticoids and monthly intravenous cyclophosphamide (250–1000 mg/m²) [97]. Ramos et al. retrospectively analyzed 25 NPSLE patients with CNS involvement. All patients were treated with weekly low-dose cyclophosphamide pulses (500 mg/m²) and all but one patient achieved a good response after a mean of 11 days without major side effects [98]. Stojanovich et al. conducted a study on 60 NPSLE patients and compared the outcomes of two groups, one receiving monthly low-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide (200–400 mg/m²) plus prednisone versus prednisone alone. They concluded that patients treated with cyclophosphamide showed more clinical and electrophysiological improvement on cerebral function [99].

Cyclophosphamide is the only therapy tested in a small, randomized controlled clinical trial in NPSLE. This trial compared intravenous methylprednisolone with intravenous cyclophosphamide. All patients received methylprednisolone 1 g/day for 3 days as induction treatment. This was followed by methylprednisolone 1 g/month for 4 months, then bimonthly for 6 months and subsequently every 3 months for 1 year, or cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m² monthly for 1 year and then every 3 months for another year. Furthermore, oral prednisone (1 mg/kg/day) was started on the fourth day of treatment (1 mg/kg/day), for no more than 3 months, and tapered according to disease activity/remission. Treatment response, defined as 20 % improvement from basal conditions by clinical, serological, and specific neurological measures at 24 months, was observed in 94.7 % (18/19) of patients using intravenous cyclophosphamide compared with 46.2 % (6/13) of patients in the methylprednisolone group. Other benefits of cyclophosphamide were a reduction in prednisone requirements and electroencephalographic improvement. No statistically significant differences in adverse effects were reported between the groups [100].

A recent Cochrane systematic review remarked that this study was the only very-low-quality evidence that cyclophosphamide is more effective in reducing NPSLE symptoms compared with methylprednisolone [101]. Besides the lack of good evidence, in clinical practice it is common to treat severe manifestations of NPSLE thought to reflect an inflammatory/neurotoxic process with an induction regimen of cyclophosphamide (500–750 mg/m²/month) in combination with glucocorticoids (prednisolone 1 mg/kg/day, with a tapering schedule of 3–6 months with or without a previous 3 days of intravenous methylprednisolone 500–1000 mg/day). After 6 months of therapy, cyclophosphamide can be continued in the same dose every 3 months for 18 months, or maintenance therapy during 1 year with other immunosuppressive therapy, for example azathioprine, may be considered to prevent recurrence [38].

From our point of view, since there is no evidence to support one or the other regimen, azathioprine may be a better option due to its better side effect profile; however, this decision must be taken based on expert opinion after evaluation of an adequate response to induction therapy with cyclophosphamide, taking into account the type of NPSLE syndrome, other concomitant organ SLE involvements, age of the patient, and the desire to become pregnant in the future.

Azathioprine

Azathioprine is a prodrug that is rapidly converted to mercaptopurine and methylnitroimidazole by thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT). Mercaptopurine is known to inhibit several enzymatic process involved in purine synthesis, which affect both cellular and humoral immune functions [102].

The positive effects of this drug in SLE patients, especially in the prevention of flares, have been previously described in the 1970s [103]. Nowadays, azathioprine (2–3 mg/kg/day) is mainly used in SLE patients presenting with arthritis, mucocutaneous manifestations, and serositis, and as maintenance therapy in lupus nephritis [57].

The side effects of azathioprine include bone marrow suppression, hepatotoxicity, gastrointestinal intolerance, and a mild increased risk for infections [104]. Furthermore, in the absence of TPMT activity, patients are likely to have higher concentrations of thioguanine nucleotides, which can pose an increased risk of severe life-threatening myelosuppression; therefore, determination of TPMT activity before initiating therapy with azathioprine is recommended by some authors [102].

The effect of azathioprine on NP manifestations in SLE has been scarcely studied. Due to its relatively mild side effect profile, azathioprine is frequently used for maintenance or as a glucocorticoid-sparing agent; however, controlled trials are lacking. A study including 68 SLE patients with a poor prognosis due to renal or NP manifestations showed that the 54 patients treated with azathioprine had a significantly improved long-term survival and fewer hospitalizations compared with those who did not receive this drug. The authors remarked on the importance of this therapy in the maintenance of clinical remission and inhibition of further deterioration of CNS function [105]. However, in a randomized trial of azathioprine (3–4 mg/kg/day plus prednisone initially) versus prednisone (60 mg/day initially) in 24 patients with life-threatening SLE, no significant short-term benefit was observed for azathioprine on NP and other SLE manifestations [106].

A single-center cohort study by Lim et al. reported the clinical course and response to immunosuppressive treatment of 53 children with psychiatric manifestations attributed to SLE (all with cognitive dysfunction and 40 with psychosis). Eighteen of 32 patients treated with azathioprine required a change to cyclophosphamide due to poor response; however, none of the patients receiving cyclophosphamide required a change [107].

One open-label trial has been conducted using azathioprine as maintenance therapy after 6 months of oral cyclophosphamide and oral prednisone in a very small case series of 13 patients with lupus psychosis. After a follow-up period of 86 ± 51 months, only one patient (8 %) had a relapse of psychosis and three patients developed other NP symptoms [96]. In patients with psychiatric disorders in the context of generalized SLE activity, induction therapy with glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide followed by maintenance with azathioprine may result in a significant improvement (60–80 % response), although relapses may occur (up to 50 %) [38].

In addition to these results, and although the use of this therapy in NPSLE is not supported by current evidence, azathioprine is widely used in clinical practice as maintenance therapy after cyclophosphamide induction in severe NPSLE symptoms, and as the first option in mild NPSLE symptoms as a glucocorticoid-sparing agent. Further studies are needed.

Mycophenolate Mofetil

Mycophenolate mofetil is a prodrug of mycophenolic acid, an inhibitor of lymphocyte proliferation via reversible inhibition of inosine-5′-monophosphate dehydrogenase, which is critical for the de novo synthesis of guanosine nucleotides. Mycophenolic acid suppresses antibody formation, cell-mediated immune response, the expression of adhesion molecules, and recruitment of lymphocytes and monocytes to sites of inflammation [108].

Historically, this drug has been used to reduce acute and chronic rejection in allograft recipients. In SLE patients, mycophenolate mofetil is widely used as the first-line option for both induction and maintenance therapy of lupus nephritis [110, 111]. Several observational studies have suggested the potential benefit of mycophenolate mofetil in nonrenal manifestations of SLE, especially in hematological and dermatological manifestations; however, none focused on NP manifestations [112].

Mycophenolate mofetil and mycophenolic acid are administered orally at a dose of 1000–3000 mg/day and 1080–1440 mg/day, respectively. The main adverse effects of mycophenolate mofetil are gastrointestinal intolerance (nausea, abdominal pain, mild to moderate diarrhea), bone marrow suppression, and infections [109].

Ginzler et al. analyzed, as a secondary endpoint, the nonrenal flares of the Aspreva Lupus Management Study, which compared the effect of mycophenolate mofetil with intravenous cyclophosphamide in 370 patients with lupus nephritis. Three NPSLE patients were treated with mycophenolate mofetil and prednisolone after 3-day methylprednisolone pulses; two patients responded partially, whereas one had complete recovery. Moreover, two patients in the cyclophosphamide group developed new neurologic manifestations versus none in the mycophenolate mofetil group [113]. In a SLE cohort study of 75 patients who were all treated with mycophenolate mofetil, neurologic manifestations improved in two of two patients, but new neurologic manifestations occurred in six patients [114].

Other authors have described individual cases or small case series of NPSLE patients treated with mycophenolate mofetil, mainly as maintenance therapy after initial treatment with cyclophosphamide [109, 115–118]. Three patients with myelopathy were treated with mycophenolate mofetil as the first immunosuppressive agent. One patient did not respond, one patient achieved partial recovery, and the other patient achieved complete recovery [109, 115].

Saison et al. published a series of 20 SLE patients with myelopathy. In nine patients, mycophenolate mofetil was chosen as maintenance therapy. Four of these patients relapsed at least once in the first 2 years [119].

In general, the efficacy of this drug in NPSLE patients is very modest. Furthermore, since most patients were simultaneously or previously treated with high-dose glucocorticoids, intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIGs), or another immunosuppressant, it is difficult to draw any conclusions.

Methotrexate

Methotrexate is a folic acid antagonist. The polyglutamated derivatives of methotrexate are potent inhibitors of various enzymes, including dihydrofolate reductase and 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide transformylase. Among the multiple immunosuppressive effects, the inhibition of interleukin (IL)-1, as well as an effect on proteolytic enzymes, has been described. Methotrexate is usually administered orally, subcutaneously, or intramuscularly. Methotrexate is routinely used in SLE patients with musculoskeletal and skin manifestations. It has also been administered intrathecally or into the cerebral ventricles, particularly in patients with CNS tumors. In these cases, 10 mg methotrexate and 10 mg dexamethasone is diluted by 3 ml normal saline and injected by conventional lumbar puncture. This route of administration may solve the problem that this drug may have to get through the BBB and increase the methotrexate drug concentration in CSF. The more common side effects of methotrexate include gastrointestinal symptoms, stomatitis, increased levels of liver enzymes and mild cytopenia. Furthermore, severe complications such as liver fibrosis, interstitial pneumonitis, and severe pancytopenia have been reported [120, 121].

This drug is used very rarely in NPSLE and evidence is limited to several case series reporting the effect of intrathecal methotrexate. Valesini et al. reported the improvement of three NPSLE patients after a combination of intrathecal methotrexate and dexamethasone [121]. A Chinese group published several reports on the same cohort. A total of 109 patients received a combination of intrathecal methotrexate and dexamethasone (one to five injections), and showed an association with a positive outcome [122]. Wang et al. reported an effectiveness rate of 89 % of methylprednisolone treatment combined with intrathecal methotrexate in 36 NPSLE patients [123]. In addition to these results, intrathecal administration of methotrexate is not considered common practice and is limited to a few centers [38].

Cyclosporin A

Cyclosporin A is a calcineurin inhibitor initially derived from a fungus; it depresses T-cell activity by inhibiting transcription of IL-2 and other cytokines. Cyclosporin A has immunosuppressive properties and has been used in patients with SLE at a daily dose of 2.5–3 mg/kg [124]. The place of cyclosporin A in the treatment of SLE patients is limited and most data regarding these agents come from experience with lupus nephritis. This therapy is known to cause side effects such as hypertension, deterioration of renal function, and hypertrichosis [125].

No studies explicitly describe the effect of cyclosporin A on NP symptoms in SLE. Cyclosporin A, together with therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), has been used in 18 NPSLE patients with organic brain syndrome and psychosis. When this combination was added to the previous standard therapy including corticosteroids and azathioprine or cyclophosphamide during a flare, earlier improvement in NP symptoms was achieved. However, the real efficacy of plasma exchange or cyclosporin A remains unknown due to the concomitant use of both therapies [126].

Rituximab/Anti-CD20

Rituximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody directed against the B-cell-specific antigen CD20. B-cell depletion is achieved by rituximab through different mechanisms such as antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, complement-dependent cytotoxicity, and induction of apoptosis. The use of B-cell depletion therapy in SLE is based on the aspect that B cells play a central role in the pathogenesis of SLE, as antigen-presenting cells and in the production of autoantibodies, cytokines, and chemokines. Currently, rituximab is widely used as an alternative therapy in patients with active SLE who are nonresponsive to standard immunosuppressive therapy [127].

Two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on rituximab in SLE patients, one with renal involvement [the Lupus Nephritis Assessment with Rituximab (LUNAR) trial] and the other without renal involvement [the Exploratory Phase II/III SLE Evaluation of Rituximab (EXPLORER) trial] failed to find superiority of rituximab over standard immunosuppressive regimens (glucocorticoids, cyclophosphamide, and mycophenolate mofetil) in mild to moderately active SLE. In these studies, severe and/or refractory patients were not included [128, 129]. On the other hand, the efficacy and safety of rituximab in the treatment of nonrenal SLE has recently been analyzed in a systematic review including one RCT, two open-label studies and 22 cohort studies, with a total of 1231 patients. Rituximab was shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of nonrenal SLE, especially in terms of disease activity, immunologic parameters, and corticosteroid-sparing effect [130]. The efficacy of rituximab in NPSLE was not assessed in the previous studies; however, in a substantial number of case reports and some open-label studies, good efficacy of rituximab was shown in refractory cases of NPSLE. Tokunaga and colleagues reported a response rate of 100 % in a series of ten severe refractory NPSLE patients treated with rituximab [131]. Narvaez and colleagues summarized all published data concerning adult patients with refractory NPSLE. A clinical response was observed in 85 % (29/34) of patients, classified as complete response in 50 % (17/34) and partial response in 35 % (12/34) of patients. However, 45 % of these patients relapsed after a median of 17 months despite maintenance therapy. Different therapeutic regimens of rituximab were used. The most frequently used regimen was 1000 mg doses separated by 15 days. Different dosing schedules appeared to show no difference in response, tolerability, or side effects. In all cases, rituximab was administered together with corticosteroids [132]. A recent case series on 18 pediatric NPSLE patients showed promising effect of rituximab. The authors divided the benefit into definite (five patients), probable (seven patients), possible (five patients) and no effect (one patient) [133]. Long-term information regarding rituximab therapy in NPSLE is scarce. Current data support the use of rituximab as a second-line therapy in patients with severe refractory NPSLE but additional controlled studies are needed to define the exact place of rituximab in the therapeutic regimen for NPSLE.

Intravenous Immunoglobulins

IVIGs constitute a mixture of natural antibodies of IgG subclass derived from the blood of healthy donors [134]. In SLE patients, the beneficial effects of IVIGs are thought to be due to (1) suppression of the function of autoreactive B lymphocytes and neutralization of pathogenic autoantibodies produced by these cells; and (2) inhibition of type I IFN-mediated differentiation of dendritic cells and suppression of endocytosis of nucleosomes [135].

Available evidence for the efficacy of IVIGs in SLE is limited and is derived from case reports and case series. Current indications proposed for IVIGs in SLE are severe cases nonrespondent to conventional immunosuppressive drugs, patients with active SLE and concomitant infection, and use as a corticosteroid-sparing agent when SLE can be controlled only with high-dose glucocorticoids. Furthermore, IVIGs can be safely used during pregnancy, without teratogenic risk, and might be a good choice in severe and life-threatening cases. In SLE patients, IVIGs have been administered as 2 g/kg, with divided doses over 2–5 days as the more commonly practiced regimen [136, 137]. The occurrence of adverse effects attributed to IVIGs is reported in up to 20 % of patients. The majority of side effects described are mild and self-limited (i.e. headaches, fever, flushing, chills, arthralgia, back pain, and myalgia) and do not require discontinuation of therapy. Other serious anecdotal systemic reactions, such as thromboembolic complications, have also been described [136, 138].

Based on case reports/series and retrospective studies, IVIGs have been successfully used to treat NPSLE patients with a broad spectrum of symptoms, including CNS manifestations (acute confusional syndrome, seizures, headache, chorea, psychosis), PNS manifestations (chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, Guillain–Barré, peripheral neuropathy associated with vasculitis), and psychiatric symptoms (psychosis, depression, mood disorder) [137, 139]. Camara and colleagues recently reported a series of 52 SLE patients, including 11 patients with nervous system involvement treated with IVIGs. Among these patients, six had CNS involvement and five had peripheral neuropathy. After IVIG treatment, eight of these patients experienced improvement (four total remission and four partial responses), and three (CNS vasculitis, peripheral neuropathy, and other with a nonspecified NPSLE) did not respond to this therapy [139]. In general, in the majority of the NPSLE cases reported to date, IVIGs were administered because of no response after corticosteroid pulses, failure of or contraindication for standard immunosuppressive therapy, or the presence of a concomitant infection. As seen in other SLE manifestations, the beneficial effects of IVIGs on NP symptoms were rapidly achieved and patients did not experience any relapse after the last infusion [137, 139, 140]. IVIGs may be used in severe refractory NPSLE not responding to conventional immunosuppression, or even as the first-choice agent when patients are pregnant or if symptoms are life-threatening and a concomitant infection is present. Future RCTs are needed for identifying the efficacy, safety, optimal dose, and duration of therapy, to support the evidence-based use of IVIGs in NPSLE patients.

Therapeutic Plasma Exchange

TPE is an extracorporeal blood purification technique designed for the removal of large molecular weight substances from the plasma. Either fresh frozen or stored plasma are used to replace large quantities of plasma from a patient by passing venous blood through an extracorporeal continuous flow centrifugation device. The rationale of this technique is that removal of substances will reduce further damage and may permit reversal of the pathologic process [141]. How this therapeutic procedure works exactly in SLE patients remains a matter of debate [142].

TPE is an expensive complex technique that requires specific equipment and experience. On the other hand, the technique is relatively safe. Complications are minor and include mild allergic reactions, fever, and hypocalcemic symptoms such as paresthesias, nausea, and cramps. Potentially life-threatening adverse reactions are rare (<0.15 %) [142, 143].

Although TPE has been used to treat several SLE manifestations with beneficial effects, its use in clinical practice is limited. Apheresis is accepted by the American Society for Apheresis (ASFA) as second-line therapy, either as standalone treatment or in conjunction with other modes of treatment, although the evidence is low [144].

TPE has been used alone or in combination with other immunosuppressants as adjuvant therapy in patients with NPSLE. It has been suggested that TPE modulates humoral components of the immune response removing autoantibodies and/or immune complexes, while immunosuppressive therapy suppresses de novo antibody production [144, 145].

Neuwelt reviewed 26 SLE patients with CNS involvement treated with TPE alone or in combination with cyclophosphamide. After this therapy, 74 % of patients improved, 13 % stabilized, and 13 % progressed, highlighting a potential benefit of TPE in refractory or critically ill patients not responding to cyclophosphamide [145]. A retrospective study on 13 patients with NPSLE flares undergoing TPE showed complete remissions in 54 % of patients and partial remissions in 46 % of patients. All but one patient had been administered cyclophosphamide and adjuvant plasma exchange during the same week [146].

TPE and cyclosporine were used in a prospective trial of 28 SLE patients (18 patients with organic brain syndrome and psychosis). This combination was added to the previous therapy (glucocorticoids and azathioprine or cyclophosphamide) during severe SLE flares. Earlier improvement in organ involvement, including rapid resolution of NP symptoms, was achieved; however, the real efficacy of TPE is not known due to the concomitant use of cyclosporine [126].

The ASFA guidelines suggest that a daily or every other day course (1–1.5 total plasma volumes) for three to six times is sufficient to see response in patients with lupus cerebritis. The guidelines also set out the treatment of acute inflammatory demyelinating disease, but there are no recommendations regarding myelopathy in SLE. In this particular case, TPE has been successfully used in severe cases; however, its real efficacy in these patients remains to be clarified since most of the successful cases reported used concomitant immunosuppressive therapy [146, 147]. TPE may also have an indication in other neurological entities related to SLE, such myasthenia gravis and Guillain–Barré syndrome. Although there are no specific recommendations for these NP symptoms, good functional outcomes have been reported when TPE has been added to immunosuppressive therapy in SLE patients with these complications [144, 148–150].

In conclusion, TPE in combination with other immunosuppressive therapy has acceptable toxicity and may be a good alternative in severe NPSLE; however, controlled trials are needed to better define the role of this therapy in these patients.

Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) has emerged as an effective treatment modality in intractable SLE patients. AHSCT can achieve sustained clinical and immunologic remissions (50–70 % disease-free survival [DFS] at 5 years) even in patients with severe disease who are not responding to any other conventional immunosuppressive therapy [151]. The aim of this therapy is resetting the patient’s immune system by (1) depletion of autoreactive memory cells; and (2) reconstitution of the immune system by a normalized repertoire of graft-derived younger T cells [152]. Peripheral blood is the preferred source of hematopoietic stem cells, and the combination of cyclophosphamide (2–4 g/m²), antithymocyte globulin (30 mg/kg), and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF; 5 µg/kg) represents the most used ablation/mobilization strategy [151, 152].

AHSCT is associated with an increased risk of short-term mortality, attributable in most cases to infectious complications or disease flares. Transplant-related mortality ranges from 0 to 25 % [153]. Furthermore, it has been reported that SLE patients have the highest 100-day transplant-related mortality and highest 5-year post-transplant mortality compared with other autoimmune diseases; therefore, it is important that the risk:benefit ratio is optimized in these patients [154].

According to recent literature, more than 200 patients have received autologous stem cell transplants as therapy for lupus refractory to aggressive standard immunosuppressive therapy [151]. The largest number of cases published come from the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) registry (n = 85), and a North American single-center experience (n = 50). The probability of 5-year DFS in both studies was approximately 50 %. Furthermore, patients not achieving sustained remission had better response to therapies that had previously failed [151, 154, 155].

Among the 50 SLE patients undergoing AHSCT reported by Burt and colleagues, 32 patients presented with any CNS involvement (seizures, psychosis, headache, aseptic meningitis, focal deficits, TIA, or myelopathy). In 18 cases, CNS involvement was the primary indication for AHSCT. No specific data regarding the outcome of NPSLE patients were reported; however, in general the disease activity significantly improved and remained significantly lower for up to 5 years after AHSCT [155]. Data from the EBMT registry have been reported in two articles, depending on the period of recruitment [156, 157]. Jayne and colleagues reported that 46 % of SLE patients recruited from 1995 to 2002 had CNS involvement. The frequency of CNS lupus activity declined to <5 % after AHSCT and only one patient developed new CNS disease post-AHSCT [156]. Among the 28 SLE patients reported to the EBMT registry between 2001 and 2008, 12 had neurologic disorder. The 3-year DFS, which was defined as the time interval from ASCT to either relapse or death, was 38 ± 15 % in NPSLE patients. Overall survival and DFS were not associated with the presence of neurologic or any other involvement before AHSCT [156]. Other authors have also reported long-standing clinical remission in NPSLE treated with AHSCT but the results are limited to case reports or small series [152, 157]. In addition to the improvement in overall lupus activity and serological status, AHSCT has been reported to reverse antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Levels of aCL and LAC markedly improved or normalized after transplantation in a high proportion of patients [158]. Burt and colleagues reported that of 22 patients receiving anticoagulation, 18 were able to discontinue this therapy a mean of 4 months after AHSCT, and 78 % remained free of subsequent thrombotic events [155].

AHSCT has been used as a salvage therapy for patients with severe NPSLE refractory to intense standard immunosuppressive therapy. In spite of the promising rates of success, more RCTs are needed in SLE patients in order to establish criteria for patient selection and the exact role of this therapy.

Antiplatelet Treatment

The disruption of atherosclerotic plaques leads to enhanced platelet deposition and, subsequently, to the formation of arterial thrombus, which can precipitate in an acute cerebrovascular event. Since platelets have been described as key cellular components of arterial occlusive thrombi, acetylsalicylic acid, a drug with a potent effect to diminish platelet aggregation, is intended to have a significant impact on morbidity and mortality [159]. Atherosclerosis has been described as occurring prematurely in SLE patients and being independent of traditional risk factors for CVD [35]. Platelet activation is increased in SLE patients compared with controls and may have a role in accelerated atherosclerosis [160]. Furthermore, the simultaneous presence of SLE and aPL antibodies, namely LAC and isolated persistently positive aCL at medium–high titers, has been associated with an increased risk of thrombosis. Tektonidou and colleagues reported that low-dose acetylsalicylic acid had a mild protective role against thrombosis in aPL-positive SLE patients [161]. Experts in APS recommend the use of low-dose acetylsalicylic acid in SLE patients with a positive LAC or isolated persistent aCL at medium–high titers as primary thromboprophylaxis when no major contraindications are present [162].

As secondary thromboprophylaxis, therapy depends on the presence of definite APS. In patients without aPL or with aPL who do not fulfill the criteria for APS, acetylsalicylic acid (50–325 mg/day) monotherapy, the combination of acetylsalicylic acid and extended-release dipyridamole, and clopidogrel 75 mg monotherapy are acceptable options for initial therapy. These options are recommended as the first choice over double therapy (acetylsalicylic acid/clopidogrel) or anticoagulants [162, 163]. In patients who have had a second cerebrovascular event while receiving acetylsalicylic acid, alternative antiplatelet agents such as clopidogrel are often considered; however, no single agent or combination has been well-studied in the general population or in SLE patients [163].

In SLE patients with stroke fulfilling the criteria for APS, optimal treatment is a matter of ongoing debate. Sole antiplatelet treatment has been proposed as an option, while other authors support the use of combined antiplatelet treatment and lower intensity anticoagulation [international normalized ratio (INR) 2.0–3.0] or high-intensity oral anticoagulation (INR >3.0) [162].

Anticoagulation

Anticoagulant drugs have demonstrated its effectiveness for the prevention and treatment of venous and arterial thromboembolism; however, their use is also associated with an increased risk for bleeding, and in some administration routes, especially oral, management can be challenging. The use and benefits of anticoagulant therapy in both primary and secondary prevention of ischemic cerebrovascular disease in the subset of SLE patients with aPL or APS remains controversial [164]. Cuadrado and colleagues recently reported a 5-year prospective, randomized, open, controlled trial on 166 SLE patients with aPL randomly receiving treatment with low-dose acetylsalicylic acid or low-dose acetylsalicylic acid and low-intensity warfarin. The authors concluded that there were no differences in thrombosis rate between both groups. Furthermore, warfarin was less safe and worse tolerated [165].

Secondary prevention of stroke in patients with aPL has also been addressed in several studies. A study focusing on arterial cerebral events showed similar rates of recurrent thrombotic events over 2 years and risk of major bleeding in patients treated with low-dose aspirin or warfarin therapy [166]. Two prospective, randomized studies on APS reported that treatment with high-intensity warfarin (INR range 3–4) was not superior to moderate-intensity warfarin (INR 2.0–3.0) in preventing recurrent thrombosis. The rate of minor hemorrhagic complications was slightly increased in patients treated with high-intensity anticoagulation [167, 168]. However, other authors have emphasized the limitations of these trials and recommend the use of prolonged warfarin therapy at a target INR >3.0 for all APS patients with a first arterial thrombotic event [169]. The EULAR recommendations for the management of NPSLE suggest that anticoagulation may be superior to antiplatelet therapy for secondary prevention of arterial events (including stroke/TIA) in APS [38]. Furthermore, recent international guidelines for the prevention and long-term management of thrombosis in aPL-positive patients recommend the use of warfarin therapy with a target INR >3.0, or an anti-aggregant combined with anticoagulant therapy (INR 2.0–3.0) in patients with definite APS and arterial thrombosis. The lack of consensus over the optimal treatment in these cases exemplifies the debate generated on this topic in the last few years, and stresses the need to start new trials [38, 47, 162].

In SLE patients with cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis, treatment with oral anticoagulation is recommended. The optimal duration of oral anticoagulant therapy after the acute phase is unclear. Guidelines recommend oral anticoagulation (INR range 2.0–3.0) for 3–6 months, and in patients with definite APS, long-term anticoagulation should be considered [170].

Oral anticoagulation has also been used in NPSLE other than cerebrovascular disease. In some SLE aPL-positive patients with myelopathy, good functional outcomes have been reported when added to immunosuppressive therapy [38, 171]; however, other authors found no additional benefit over standard immunosuppression alone and claim that there is not enough evidence for anticoagulation in these patients [172]. In SLE patients with chorea or seizure, anticoagulation may be considered when associated with aPL or when an ischemic subjacent process is suspected. This therapy has also been successfully used in aPL-related ischemic optic neuropathy and in SLE patients with positive aPL and cranial neuropathy not responding to immunosuppressive therapy [38]. A single uncontrolled study has suggested that APS patients with cognitive dysfunction may benefit from anticoagulation therapy [173].

Drugs in Development

Advances in the understanding of immunopathogenesis of SLE have led to the development of immunotherapies targeting B cells, T cells, the costimulatory modulation, and cytokines. Pathogenic mechanisms in NPSLE are still poorly understood. Furthermore, experimental models using these new therapies are lacking; however, according to what we already know about NPSLE pathogenesis, we could speculate about the potential role of some of these drugs in the future treatment of these manifestations.

The promising effect of rituximab may suggest an important contribution of B cells to NPSLE pathogenesis. Belimumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody targeted against B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS), is now licensed in the US and Europe for the management of SLE. The BLISS trials were neither designed nor powered to definitively demonstrate the efficacy of belimumab in specific organ systems. Other trials on therapies targeting BLyS, such as tabalumab (phase II) and blisibimod (phase III) are ongoing. Atacicept, a humanized fusion protein that binds BLyS and APRIL (a proliferation-inducing ligand) has also been tested in SLE patients [174]. Both BLyS and APRIL were shown to be elevated in the CSF of SLE patients. Furthermore, APRIL was increased in the CSF of NPSLE patients compared with SLE patients without NP symptoms and other neurological diseases. It has been suggested that BLyS and APRIL are produced locally in the astrocytes of the brain and that they may play a role in NPSLE etiology. Hence, antagonists of these cytokines could have beneficial effect in these patients [175, 176]. To date, results in SLE patients are promising and further studies with these therapies are awaited; however, patients with severe CNS manifestations were excluded from all these trials, which will limit any conclusion in this respect [177].

Epratuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets CD22 on B cells and results in modulation of B-cell function and migration, has also been studied in SLE patients. Although the EMBLEM and ALLEVIATE trials showed promising results, the EMBODY I and EMBODY II phase III clinical studies for epratuzumab in SLE did not meet their primary clinical efficacy endpoints [178, 179].

Several drugs targeting cytokines that are thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of both SLE and NPSLE are currently being tested. For example, IFN-α is considered one of the most promising therapeutic targets in SLE. Sifalimumab, a human anti-IFN-α monoclonal antibody, and rontalizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody IgG1, have shown promising results in reducing SLE disease activity across multiple clinical measures [180]. Although not confirmed in all studies, IFN-α is one of the inflammatory mediators related to NPSLE pathogenesis. Type I IFNs are found in glia and neurons. Among their functions, IFNs induce other inflammatory mediators such as IL-6, alter brain neurotransmitters such as serotonin, and generate brain toxic metabolites. Subsequently, IFN-α has been hypothesized as a potential target in NPSLE [181–183].

A common characteristic of these new therapies is that the impact on disease activity seems promising but must still be assessed in phase III trials. Moreover, in most of these trials, CNS involvement was an exclusion criterion, and the potential to treat NPSLE will remain unknown [177].

Several studies have confirmed the intrathecal presence of higher levels of other cytokines in NPSLE. High levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-6, and IFN-γ are found in CSF of NPSLE patients. The overproduction of these cytokines is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis and severity of NP symptoms, and they have been proposed as candidate targets for future treatment [175, 184–186]. Two phase I trials with tocilizumab, an anti-IL-6 blocker, and AMG 811, a monoclonal antibody against IFN-γ, have shown acceptable results and more studies are awaited [187, 188].

Although antibodies are administered intravenously and may have a therapeutic effect on the brain, taking into account the BBB disruption in NPSLE, these drugs may require transport across the BBB using an endogenous BBB peptide receptor transporter [189]. Ischemic NPSLE, especially in the presence of aPL or APS, may benefit from new-generation direct oral anticoagulants in the future, including dabigatran etexilate, a direct thrombin inhibitor, and rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban, which are direct anti-Xa inhibitors [190]. Although not currently recommended in APS, these therapies may represent a potential alternative for long-term anticoagulation in APS. Rivaroxaban has shown good results in both arterial and venous thrombosis; however, information is controversial [191, 192]. More data will be drawn from ongoing studies.

Potential Future Targets

The BBB is a network of endothelial cells and pericyte and astrocyte projections that regulates the entry of soluble molecules and cells into the brain parenchyma. It has been proposed that a disruption of the integrity of the BBB may have a potential pathogenic role in NPSLE since this may permit the influx of neuropathic antibodies across the BBB. Many modulators of the integrity of the BBB have been proposed. Among them, anti-endothelial cell antibodies, complement components, cytokines and chemokines, and environmental mediators have an essential role [193].

It has been speculated that ameliorating the disruption of the BBB may have an important effect in the control of NPSLE. Studies in MRL/lpr mice, accurately reflecting human NPSLE, have shown the importance of TWEAK, a pro-inflammatory cytokine member of the TNF superfamily, and the alternative complement cascade in BBB disruption.

TWEAK variably induces cellular proliferation, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and the production of metalloproteinase, cytokines, and chemokines [194]. TWEAK has been found to be increased in the cerebral cortices of MRL/lpr mice. Furthermore, in a murine knockout model for its receptor Fn14, mice were found to improve in cognitive function and to have less depression and anhedonia [195].

Complement component C5 has been reported to play a role in the maintenance of the BBB in mice [196]. Selective inhibition of C5aR alleviated CNS lupus [197]. Also, inhibition of the classical and alternative complement cascade with the complement inhibitor Crry was demonstrated to alleviate experimental CNS lupus in mice [198]. Furthermore, complement plays a role in microvascular injury. Mice deficient in C3 and C5 components are resistant to enhanced thrombosis and endothelial cell activation induced by aPL antibodies, indicating the important role of alternative pathway complement activation on aPL antibody-mediated thrombogenesis [199, 200]. Based on this information, eculizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody blocking the generation of terminal complement components C5a and C5b-9, may be a potential drug to be used in the future in NPSLE [201].