Lupus; Diagnosis.Diagnosing systemic lupus erythematosus Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Definition
Systemic lupus erythematosus (also called lupus or SLE) is a disease where a person's immune system attacks and injures the body's own organs and tissues. Almost every system of the body can be affected by SLE. (SLE) is not easy. Sometimes the disease announces itself decisively with a flare resembling an infection, but more often the early stages of the disease produce only vague symptoms such as aches, rashes or fatigue, which gradually worsen over time. Lupus symptoms can be easily confused with those of other diseases.
The most common symptoms, affecting more than half of those with lupus include:
arthralgia (joint pain)
arthritis (joint warmth, swelling and redness)
unexplained fever (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit)
extended or severe fatigue
anemia (abnormally low red blood cell count red blood cell count,
n the number of red blood cells (erthrocytes) in 1 mm3 of blood; a useful diagnostic tool in the determination of several kinds of anemia. See also mean corpuscular hemoglobin. )
alopecia (hair loss)
Less common symptoms include:
pleurisy pleurisy (plr`ĭsē), inflammation of the pleura (the membrane that covers the lungs and lines the chest cavity). It is sometimes accompanied by pain and coughing. (chest pain when breathing deeply, caused by inflammation of the lungs' lining)
photosensitivity Photosensitivity Definition
Photosensitivity refers to any increase in the reactivity of the skin to sunlight.
The skin is a carefully designed interface between our bodies and the outside world. rashes that appear after exposure to sunlight
baldness on areas of the scalp
Raynaud's syndrome (fingers turning white or blue in the cold)
seizures, psychosis and other neuropsychiatric problems
mouth or nose ulcers
pericarditis Pericarditis Definition
Pericarditis is an inflammation of the two layers of the thin, sac-like membrane that surrounds the heart. This membrane is called the pericardium, so the term pericarditis means inflammation of the pericardium. (chest pain caused by inflammation of the heart lining)
phlebitis phlebitis (fləbī`tĭs), inflammation of a vein. Phlebitis is almost always accompanied by a blood clot, or thrombus, in the affected vein, a condition known as thrombophlebitis (see thrombosis). (blood clots)
Consult a health care professional as soon as possible if you have any of the symptoms listed above, whether singly or in combination. Multiple symptoms indicate a stronger likelihood that lupus is the culprit, and a rheumatologist should evaluate you.
An evaluation for lupus consists of a thorough medical history, a physical examination and laboratory tests.
An initial diagnostic screening usually includes a complete blood count, liver and kidney tests, blood tests for autoantibodies (increased antibodies that target healthy issues and are an indicator of autoimmune disease), skin biopsy, urinalysis (to detect possible kidney disease), blood chemistry work-up and erythrocyte sedimentation rate Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate Definition
The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), or sedimentation rate (sed rate), is a measure of the settling of red blood cells in a tube of blood during one hour. (a measure of inflammation).
The antinuclear antibody (ANA) test detects autoantibodies that react against components of the nucleus, or "command center," of your own cells. A positive test indicates a stimulated immune system, which is common in people with lupus. However, ANA is also positive for other conditions, such as systemic sclerosis, mixed connective tissue disease connective tissue disease Autoimmune disease, collagen-vascular disease Any of the diseases affecting connective tissues, with an autoimmune component, and immunologic/inflammatory defects Clinical Arthritis, connective tissue defects, endocarditis, myositis, and rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, people without such disorders could have a positive ANA test. A positive ANA is common in people over 50.
Other autoantibody autoantibody /au·to·an·ti·body/ (-an´ti-bod?e) an antibody formed in response to, and reacting against, an antigenic constituent of one's own tissues.
n. tests include anti-DNA, anti-Sm, anti-RNP, anti-Ro (SSA) and anti-La (SSB). Anticardiolipin or other antiphospholipid tests may indicate risk for a blood clotting disorder. In some cases, specialized diagnostic tests for the eyes, heart lungs or brain, or a biopsy of the skin or kidney may be performed.
Clearly, diagnosing lupus is a complex matter. If there is a reasonable likelihood that you have lupus, you will need a referral to a rheumatologist.
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Keywords: lupus, systemic lupus erythematosus, sle, symptoms, autoantibodies, ana