en Reumatology Reumatology Original Article Original Article <span style="font-size:14px;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="line-height:14pt"><b><i><span style="color:blue">Background</span></i></b><i><span style="color:blue">:</span></i> Diagnosis of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is challenging due to nonspecific biomarkers. High serum levels of neurofilament protein light subunit (NFL), high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and have been reported in several autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to examine whether their plasma levels could serve as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker for NPSLE.</span><br> <span style="line-height:14pt"><b><i><span style="color:blue">Methods:</span></i></b> There were 90 SLE patients enrolled in this cross-sectional study (87.8% women and 12.2% men with a mean age of 41.67&plusmn;11.05 years). We assessed the mental status of patients, also we measured the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/ACR (SLICC/ ACR) Damage Index or SDI scores. Serum levels of NFL, HMGB1, MMP9, and ds-DNA were investigated to find a role in the pathophysiology of NPSLE.<span style="font-size:10.0pt"></span></span><br> <span style="line-height:14pt"><b><i><span style="color:blue">Results:</span></i></b> Among the 90 patients with SLE, 63 (70%) met the criteria of NPSLE syndrome. Our results have shown a notable difference concerning SEDIAC-2k score, SDI score, PANS, MoCA, and Beck anxiety depression, between the two groups (p < 0.05). Although serum level of all measured serum biomarkers (NFL, MMP-9, HMGB1, dsDNA) were higher in patients with NPSLE, the difference was not statistically significant. Interestingly, our results showed that the serum level of NFL was correlated with the serum level of HMGB-1 and MMP-9. (r: 0.411, P=0.003).<span style="font-size:10.0pt"></span></span><br> <span style="line-height:14pt"><b><i><span style="color:blue">Conclusion</span></i></b><i><span style="color:blue">:</span></i> Serum level of NFL, HMGB-1 and MMP-9 may be used to detect abnormal mental status in patients with SLE.<span style="font-size:10.0pt"></span></span></span></span> Systemic lupus erythematosus, Cognitive disorders, Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus, Autoantibodies, neuroinflammation 58 65 http://caspjim.com/browse.php?a_code=A-10-2038-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Arman Ahmadzade arman319@yahoo.com 100319475328460046484 100319475328460046484 No Department of Rheumatology, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Leila Simani l.simani62@gmail.com 100319475328460046485 100319475328460046485 No Department of Pharmaceutical sciences, College of pharmacy, Kentucky University, Lexington, KY, USA Mehrdad Roozbeh mehrdadroozbeh@gmail.com 100319475328460046486 100319475328460046486 No Department of Neurology, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Farane Farsad faraneh.farsad2016@gmail.com 100319475328460046487 100319475328460046487 No Department of Rheumatology, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mehdi Sheibani mesheibani@yahoo.com 100319475328460046488 100319475328460046488 No Cardiovascular research center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Omid Negaresh Omidnegaresh@yahoo.com 100319475328460046489 100319475328460046489 No School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Mehdi Emam mmemam@yahoo.com 100319475328460046490 100319475328460046490 No Department of Rheumatology, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Alireza Rajaei arrajaei@gmail.com 100319475328460046491 100319475328460046491 No Department of Rheumatology, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Muhanna Kazempour muhannakazempour@gmail.com 100319475328460046492 100319475328460046492 Yes Department of Rheumatology, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mahtab Ramezani drramezani23@gmail.com 100319475328460046493 100319475328460046493 No Department of Neurology, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran samad nazarpoor samadnazarpoor@yahoo.com 100319475328460046494 100319475328460046494 No Department of Rheumatology, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran