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| | Title: | How Is Lupus Diagnosed? | | Article: |
Symptoms change over the time. Flare is an event when
a patient has symptoms. Because many lupus symptoms
come and go, lupus is difficult to diagnose. Lupus
mimics many other diseases. A careful history with
analysis assists in the diagnosis. American College of
Rheumatology created a list of eleven symptoms to
distinguish lupus from other diseases. The patient
must have four or more of them to diagnose lupus for
sure. Medical history, complete physical exam, blood
tests, skin biopsy and kidney help in diagnosis.
Some patients having lupus never develop enough
criteria for a definite diagnosis. Some patients get
enough criteria only after years of observation.
The criteria used to diagnose lupus erythematosus are:
1. Butterfly (malar) rash over the cheeks
2. Red raised patches of discoid skin rash causing
scarring
3. Photosensitivity - rash reaction to sunlight.
4. Nose or mouth ulcers
5. Arthritis of two or more peripheral joints
6. Inflammation of lung or heart serosa - pleuritis
and pericarditis
7. Kidney problems include excessive urine protein and
clumps cells in urine (casts)
8. Neurologic disorders, seizures and psychosis
9. Low counts of white, red cells and platelets in
blood
10. Abnormal immune tests - falsely positive syphilis
test, anti-DNA and anti-Smith antibodies,
anticardiolipin antibodies, lupus anticoagulant and
LE.
11. Antinuclear Antibody tests (ANA).
In addition, red cells sedimentation rate, blood
chemistry, analysis of body fluids, and biopsies
determine the severity of the diseases. | | Author: | Aleksandr Kavokin, MD, PhD | | System: | Skin | | Subject: | Lupus | | Abstract: | Lupus mimics many other diseases. A careful history with analysis assists in the diagnosis. | | Website: | www.kavokin.com | | Time: | 22:14 | | Reference: | | | Reference 2: | |
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©2006 Kavokin.com
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Articles by Aleksandr Kavokin, MD, PhD
Doctor-Robot (Free section)