Healthcommunities.com, Doctors Helping People Online for Over 10 years Healthcommunities.com
Home Search SiteMap Contact Us Forum Store Physician Board

Lupus


Diagnosis

Physician developed and monitored.

Original source: www.rheumatologychannel.com
Original Date of Publication: 01 Jun 2006
Reviewed by: Stanley J. Swierzewski, III, M.D.
Last Reviewed: 04 Dec 2007

Home » Lupus » Diagnosis



Diagnosis

The American College of Rheumatology has established the criteria for the classification of lupus. SLE is diagnosed if more than 4 of the following are present.

  • Malar rash (butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and nose)
  • Rash (raised red patches on the skin)
  • Photosensitivity (rash caused by exposure to sunlight)
  • Mouth or nose ulcers (usually painless)
  • Non-erosive arthritis (does not destroy the bones surrounding the joints), which occurs in 2 or more joints and causes tenderness, swelling, or effusion (increased amounts of fluid)
  • Cardiopulmonary involvement (e.g., inflammation of the lining around the heart [pericarditis] and/or the lungs [pleurisy])
  • Neurological disorder (e.g., seizures, psychosis, cognitive dysfunction)
  • Kidney (renal) disorder (e.g., excessive protein in the urine [proteinuria], cellular casts in the urine)
  • Blood disorder (e.g., hemolytic anemia, low white blood cell count, low platelet count)
  • Immunologic disorder (e.g., antibodies to double stranded DNA, antibodies to Sm, antibodies to cardiolipin)
  • Antinuclear antibodies (ANA; positive test in absence of drugs known to induce a positive test)


Laboratory tests

There is no test that is used specifically to diagnose SLE; however, the disease may affect a number of test results.

Most patients with lupus test positive for anti-nuclear antibody (ANA); however, as many as 20% of healthy women also test positive for this antibody, so the test is not definitive for lupus.

Depending on which organ systems are affected, additional laboratory tests can be used to detect a specific abnormality (e.g., an elevated red blood cell count in the urine if the kidneys are affected) caused by lupus.



Lupus (continued...)

Comment on the above article

Browser Comments
    There are currently no comments.

Lupus Resources

Join Our Lupus Forum

Do you have a question, want to share medical advice, or just need to discuss your situation with someone else having a similar experience?

The healthchannels forum is a resource for everyone to share and discuss their health and medical needs with others.


Living with...Share your story

Do you have a personal health story that you would like to share with others?

As a source of free patient education, our goal is to provide our users with trustworthy information and support from others. That's why we've started our "Living with..." sections.

Our "Living With..." support pages are a place to share experiences about living with a certain condition, disease, disorder, or illness and for loved ones of those dealing with health-related issues.

Many people, especially when newly diagnosed, find comfort in knowing that others are having a similar experience.

Help others by sharing your story.

View stories already submitted.

June 1st is National Cancer Survivors Day
Share your survival story and help others in the fight against cancer.
Read cancer survivor stories already submitted.

Stay Updated

Sign up for our newsletter and receive important updates on the medical conditions that are most important to you.


Are you interested in becoming a nurse? Take this test.

To quickly access health information from your website's browser,
download Healthcommunities.com's healthchannels toolbar.