Lupus: Criteria for Diagnosis

The following criteria are used to distinguish Reference lupus Opens New Window (systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE) from other Reference autoimmune Opens New Window and rheumatic diseases.

A person with 4 of these 11 conditions can be classified as having lupus. These conditions may be present all at once, or they may appear in succession over a period of time.^{Reference 1}

• Butterfly (Reference malar Opens New Window Reference Opens New Window) rash on cheeks
• Rash on face, arms, neck, torso (discoid rash)
• Skin rashes that result from exposure to sunlight or Reference ultraviolet Opens New Window light (photosensitivity)
• Mouth or nasal sores (Reference ulcers Opens New Window), usually painless
• Joint swelling, stiffness, pain involving two or more joints (Reference arthritis Opens New Window)
• Inflammation of the membranes surrounding the lungs (Reference pleuritis Opens New Window) or heart (Reference pericarditis Opens New Window)
• Abnormalities in urine, such as increased protein or clumps of red blood cells or kidney cells, called cell casts
• Nervous system problems, such as Reference seizures Opens New Window or Reference psychosis Opens New Window, without known cause
• Problems with the blood, such as reduced numbers of red blood cells (Reference anemia Opens New Window), platelets, or white blood cells
• Laboratory tests showing increased Reference autoimmune Opens New Window activity (antibodies against normal tissue)
• Positive antinuclear antibody (Reference ANA) test

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