Diagnosis
Because many lupus symptoms mimic other illnesses, are sometimes vague and may come and go, lupus can be difficult to diagnose. Diagnosis is usually made by a careful review of a person's entire medical history coupled with an analysis of the results obtained in routine laboratory tests and some specialized tests related to immune status.
Currently, there is no single laboratory test that can determine whether a person has lupus or not. To assist the physician in the diagnosis of lupus, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) in 1982 issued a list of 11 symptoms or signs that help distinguish lupus from other diseases. A person should have four or more of these symptoms to suspect lupus. The symptoms do not all have to occur at the same time.
The Eleven Criteria Used for the Diagnosis of Lupus
|
Criterion |
Definition |
|
Malar Rash |
Rash over the cheeks |
|
Discoid Rash |
Red raised patches |
|
Photosensitivity |
Reaction to sunlight, resulting in the development of or increase in skin rash |
|
Oral Ulcers |
Ulcers in the nose or mouth, usually painless |
|
Arthritis |
Nonerosive arthritis involving two or more peripheral joints (arthritis in which the bones around the joints do not become destroyed) |
|
Serositis |
Pleuritis or pericarditis (inflammation of the lining of the lung or heart) |
|
Renal Disorder |
Excessive protein in the urine (greater than 0.5 gm/day or 3+ on test sticks) and/or cellular casts (abnormal elements the urine, derived from red and/or white cells and/or kidney tubule cells) |
|
Neurologic |
Seizures (convulsions) and/or psychosis in the absence of drugs or metabolic disturbances which are known to cause such effects |
|
Hematologic |
Hemolytic anemia or leukopenia (white blood count below 4,000 cells per cubic millimeter) or lymphopenia (less than 1,500 lymphocytes per cubic millimeter) or thrombocytopenia (less than 100,000 platelets per cubic millimeter). The leukopenia and lymphopenia must be detected on two or more occasions. The thrombocytopenia must be detected in the absence of drugs known to induce it. |
|
Antinuclear |
Positive test for antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in the absence of drugs known to induce it. |
|
Immunologic |
Positive anti-double stranded anti-DNA test, positive anti-Sm test, positive antiphospholipid antibody such as anticardiolipin, or false positive syphilis test (VDRL). |
Adapted from: Tan, E.M., et. al. The 1982 Revised Criteria for the Classification of SLE. Arth Rheum 25: 1271-1277.