Diagnostic criteria for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Diagnostic criteria for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder which may affect many organ systems including the skin, joints and internal organs.

The disease may be mild or severe and life-threatening.

African-Americans and Asians are disproportionately affected.

Diagnosing SLE

Lupus is diagnosed based on a combination of clinical signs such and specific blood test abnormalities.

The most common autoantibody seen in lupus is the antinuclear antibody (ANA).

Current diagnostic criteria for SLE include 4 of the following symptoms to be present at any time during a patient's history:

·        Malar rash

·        Discoid rash

·        Photosensitivity

·        Oral ulcers

·        Arthritis : peripheral arthritis

·        Renal disorder : proteinuria

·        Neurologic disorder : psychosis

·        Hematologic disorder : pancytopenia

·        Immunologic disorder

·        Antinuclear antibody