Diagnosis of Lupus

How does a doctor arrive at a diagnosis of lupus? In the early
1980s, physicians in the American Rheumatism Association surveyed large numbers of people with lupus, and found 11 symptoms and signs that distinguish lupus from other diseases. For a physician to detect lupus, a person must have 4 or more of the following symptoms at some time
during his/her illness:

1. Rash over the cheeks.

2. Discoid rash (red raised patches).

3. Photosensitivity

4. Ulcers in the nose or mouth (usually painless).

5. Arthritis

6. Pleuritis or pericarditis (inflammation of the lining of the heart or lung).

7. Kidney disorder

8. Neurologic disorder (seizures/convulsions and/or psychosis).

9. Hematologic disorder

10. Antinuclear antibody (ANA).

11. Immunologic disorder (positive double stranded Anti-DNA test, positive Anti-Sm test, positive antiphospholipid antibody such as anticardiolipin, or false positive syphilis
test (VDRL).