Lupus: Criteria for Diagnosis
Topic Overview
The following criteria are used to distinguish lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE) from other autoimmune and rheumatic diseases.
A person with 4 of these 11 conditions can be classified as having lupus. These conditions may be present all at once, or they may appear in succession over a period of time. footnote 1
- Butterfly ( malar ) rash on cheeks
- Rash on face, arms, neck, torso (discoid rash)
- Skin rashes that result from exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet light (photosensitivity)
- Mouth or nasal sores ( ulcers ), usually painless
- Joint swelling, stiffness, pain involving two or more joints ( arthritis )
- Inflammation of the membranes surrounding the lungs ( pleuritis ) or heart ( pericarditis )
- Abnormalities in urine, such as increased protein or clumps of red blood cells or kidney cells, called cell casts
- Nervous system problems, such as seizures or psychosis , without known cause
- Problems with the blood, such as reduced numbers of red blood cells ( anemia ), platelets, or white blood cells
- Laboratory tests showing increased autoimmune activity (antibodies against normal tissue)
- Positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) test
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Current as of: December 9, 2019
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: Anne C. Poinier MD - Internal Medicine
Martin J. Gabica MD - Family Medicine
E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine
Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine
Nancy Ann Shadick MD, MPH - Internal Medicine, Rheumatology
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Current as of: December 9, 2019
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: Anne C. Poinier MD - Internal Medicine & Martin J. Gabica MD - Family Medicine & E. Gregory Thompson MD - Internal Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine & Nancy Ann Shadick MD, MPH - Internal Medicine, Rheumatology