What are the diagnostic criteria for SLE?
What are EULAR/ACR diagnostic criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)?
| Domain | Criteria | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Mucocutaneous | Non-scarring alopecia Oral ulcers Subacute cutaneous or discoid lupus Acute cutaneous lupus | 2 2 4 6 |
| Serosal | Pleural or pericardial effusion Acute pericarditis | 5 6 |
| Musculoskeletal | Joint involvement | 6 |
How do you evaluate SLE?
Nonspecific laboratory tests can be helpful to identify organ involvement and assess inflammation in patients with suspected SLE. Such tests include CBC, urinalysis, a comprehensive metabolic panel, and a direct Coombs test.
Is SLE a diagnosis of exclusion?
When a physician makes the diagnosis of SLE, s/he must exclude the possibility of conditions with comparable symptoms, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), vasculitis, dermatomyositis and arthritis caused by a drug or virus.
When should you suspect SLE?
In clinical practice, SLE should be suspected in any patient presenting with an unexplained disease process involving two or more organ systems.
What is the most common complication of SLE?
There are several complications related to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its treatments you should be aware of:
- Joint deformities.
- Kidney failure.
- Stroke.
- Heart attack.
- Pregnancy complications.
- Hip destruction (also called avascular necrosis)
- Cataracts.
- Bone fractures.
Which test is the most specific and sensitive test for SLE?
The antinuclear antibody (ANA) test is the most sensitive test for SLE and is therefore the best screening assay for ruling out its presence. Anti-native (N)-DNA and anti-Sm (Smith antigen) tests are highly specific for SLE and have strong confirmatory powers, even in a patient unlikely to have the disease.
How is SLE treated?
Treatment for SLE
- anti-inflammatory medications for joint pain and stiffness, such as these options available online.
- steroid creams for rashes.
- corticosteroids to minimize the immune response.
- antimalarial drugs for skin and joint problems.
- disease modifying drugs or targeted immune system agents for more severe cases.
Is CRP elevated in SLE?
Objectives: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) often display modest elevations of C-reactive protein (CRP) despite raised disease activity and increased interleukin (IL-) 6.
What visceral organ that is most commonly involved in SLE?
The kidney is the most commonly involved visceral organ in SLE. Although only approximately 50% of patients with SLE develop clinically evident renal disease, biopsy studies demonstrate some degree of renal involvement in almost all patients.
What is SLE screening?
The antinuclear antibodies (ANA) test is the serological hallmark of SLE. Up to 98% of patients with SLE will have a positive ANA,22 making it highly sensitive and useful as a screening test. A negative ANA makes SLE very unlikely and other diagnoses should be sought to explain symptoms.