Introduction: Autoantibodies may occur in the course of various diseases. In the case of systemic lupus erythematosus the
presence of specific autoantibodies is included in the classification criteria of the disease. The aim of the study was
to investigate whether the presence of the serologic markers of systemic lupus erythematosus, i.e. anti-dsDNA, anti-Sm and
anticardiolipin antibodies of the class IgM and IgG are linked with the results of neuropsychological tests evaluating selected
cognitive functions in patients without overt neuropsychiatric lupus and without antiphospholipid syndrome. Material and
methods: The study included 22 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. For the assessment of anti-dsDNA, anti-Sm
and anticardiolipin antibodies the immunoenzymatic method was used. For neuropsychological estimation of the selected
cognitive functions the attention switching test and the choice reaction time were applied, in which the results are expressed
as the average delay i.e. mean correct latency, using the computer-based Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated
Battery (CANTAB). Results: The results of attention switching test in patients with anti-Sm antibodies were lower, but not
significantly different from those obtained by the patients without such antibodies: 75.0 (73.12–88.12) vs. 92.5 (85–95).
Choice reaction time was significantly longer in patients with anti-Sm antibodies in comparison to the patients without antiSm
antibodies: 614.9 (520.6–740.8) vs. 476.7 (396.6–540) (p = 0.01). No significant difference was demonstrated in the results
of attention switching test and choice reaction time with regard to the presence of anti-dsDNA antibodies. The results
of attention switching test and choice reaction time were not different between the groups of patients with and without
anticardiolipin antibodies in the IgM and IgG class. Conclusions: Anti-Sm antibodies seem to contribute to the pathogenetic
pathway involved in the deterioration of the results of the selected cognitive functions in systemic lupus erythematosus
patients. The use of neuropsychological assessment as a screening procedure in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with anti-Sm antibodies appears to be reasonable