DIAGNOSIS OF SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

The American College of Rheumatology has proposed a list of 11 clinical, pathologic, and laboratory criteria that can be used to diagnose SLE. These include: malar rash, discoid rash, photosensitivity, oral ulcers, arthritis, serositis, renal disorder, neurologic disorder (seizures or psychosis), hematologic disorder (cytopenias), immunologic disorder (especially anti-dsDNA or antiSm antibodies), and presence of ANA. Renal disorder is defined as the presence of either proteinuria (>500 mg/24 hr or 3+ protein on dipstick) or cellular casts. For research purposes, 4 of 11 criteria are required to make the diagnosis; however, in clinical practice, many patients are diagnosed with a lupus-spectrum disease without meeting this threshold.