Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a debilitating and chronic autoimmune disease which strikes insidiously. The disease currently has a prevalence of 43/ 100 000 individuals in Malaysia. The presentation of the disease is varied resulting in delay in diagnosis and onset of complications prior to management. The disease commonly presents as joint pain and cutaneous manifestations. Neuropsychiatric presentation accounts for 24% of symptoms during onset of illness. This case report highlights that we encountered a patient who presented with neuropsychiatric manifestations, whereby the patient was managed for the psychiatric symptoms prior to the organic diagnosis being made.
Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder with marked symptoms of hallucination, delusion, and impaired cognitive behaviors. Although multidimensional factors have been associated with the development of schizophrenia, the principal cause of the disorder remains debatable. Microbiome involvement in the etiology of schizophrenia has been widely researched due to the advancement in sequencing technologies. This review describes the contribution of the gut microbiome in the development of schizophrenia that is facilitated by the gut-brain axis. The gut microbiota is connected to the gut-brain axis via several pathways and mechanisms, that are discussed in this review. The role of the oral microbiota, probiotics and prebiotics in shaping the gut microbiota are also highlighted. Lastly, future perspectives for microbiome research in schizophrenia are addressed.