Abstract / Summary
Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is a severe and complex complication of systemic lupus erythematosus that affects diagnostic decision-making and treatment strategies. However, the temporal evolution of evidence-based diagnostic and therapeutic paradigms, as well as persistent clinical bottlenecks, has not been fully characterized. We conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 1,569 NPSLE-related publications retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus between 2006 and 2025. In addition, relevant clinical trials from PubMed were incorporated to support an evidence-based synthesis. Over the past two decades, annual publication volume in the NPSLE field increased, with an average growth rate of 6.04%. China and the United States emerged as the leading global contributors. Collaboration patterns differed across countries: the United States had a multiple-country publication (MCP) rate of 23.6%, whereas China had a lower MCP rate of 7.5%. Keyword evolution indicated a paradigm shift toward precision diagnostics and therapeutics, with neuroimaging and cognitive assessment emerging as prominent research hotspots. Despite substantial advances, the field remains constrained by major challenges, including clinical heterogeneity, the lack of standardized diagnostic thresholds, and the systematic exclusion of patients with active NPSLE from many SLE clinical trials. Future work should prioritize standardized diagnostic frameworks, NPSLE-specific clinical trials, and the development of effective CNS-penetrant therapies to improve long-term patient outcomes.
Primary Source
Frontiers in immunology
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