Abstract
We investigated the prevalence of cognitive impairment in patients with Behc¸et’s disease (BD) without overt neurological involvement.
The influence of disease duration, disease activity, prednisone dosage, and anxiety and depression levels was evaluated. Twenty-six
consecutive BD outpatients and 26 healthy controls matched for age, education and sex completed a comprehensive neuropsychological
battery including tests of memory, visuospatial and constructional abilities, language, attention and psychomotor speed, non-verbal
reasoning and executive functioning. The Hamilton scales for anxiety and depression were administered. Disease activity was assessed using
the Behc¸et’s Disease Current Activity Form (BDCAF). Compared to controls, BD patients were significantly impaired on tasks evaluating
long-term verbal and non-verbal memory, and visuospatial skills. In addition, BD patients were significantly more anxious and depressed
than controls. Cognitive impairment was evident in 46.1% of BD patients compared with none of control subjects ( p < 0.0001), with
memory representing the cognitive domain most affected. Both high disease activity (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0–1.5, p < 0.04) and high
prednisone dosage (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0–1.7, p < 0.03) were independently associated with cognitive impairment in BD after adjustment for
demographic variables. Cognitive impairment, involving mainly memory functions, occurs frequently in BD patients. It may occur
independently of clinically overt neurological involvement, and is more common in patients with an active disease and in those receiving
prednisone.
Lingua originale | English |
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pagine (da-a) | 99-104 |
Numero di pagine | 6 |
Rivista | Journal of the Neurological Sciences |
Volume | 220 |
Stato di pubblicazione | Published - 2004 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Neurology
- Clinical Neurology