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Q: How to Diagnose Lupus?
asked by: DoctorQuestion on March 29th, 2006
Hi,
i was diagnosed with lupus almost 20 years ago. I've been on a lot of meds since then and have been in good control. I also have type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and hypothroydism. My first 2 md's said lupus (ana 1:160) consistantly high sed rate, sun sensitivity, discoid rash, joint and muscle aches, transient numbing and tingling throughout extremities, unexplained hives, pleuracy, etc. My other lupus labs have been normal. About 5 years into this mess I moved to a new area and my new rheumatologist said that it was an undifferientated connective tissue disease. He made some medication changes but was bascially treating me symptomatically. Recently, I moved again and my new rheumy says that he doesn't think there is any connective tissue disease going on. He thinks that it is due to my thyroid condition and that the consistantly high ana doesn't mean anything. My thyroid has been in good control constantly since I was diagnosed with it many years ago. I have started getting non painful sores in my nose and mouth but he doesn't think there is any connection. I am also developing chronic sinusitis. I had a ct scan of the sinus' and it didn't show anything unusual, but my md doesn't think that it is lupus related. He does have me on an nsaid, muscle relaxants and pain med, so he is treating the symptoms, I just don't see the connection between my well controlled thyroid condition and my lupus symptoms. My diabetes is also in good control. What does it take to get a diagnosis out of these doctors?


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Dr. Nikola Gjuzelov , MD
replied on April 11th, 2006
Lupus Answer A749
According to the American Rheumatology Association (ARA) to diagnose lupus you should have at least 4 of these criteria:
1. Butterfly-like persistent facial erythema;
2. DISCOID REDNESS WITH HYPERKERATOSIS OR ATROPHY;
3. SUN SENSIBILITY;
4. NON-PAINFUL SORES IN THE MOUTH AND NOSE;
5. JOINT INFLAMATION on 2 or more peripheral joints;
6. PLEURISY;
7. Renal failure(high urea and creatinin in blood, erythrocytes an proteins in the urine;
8. NEUROLOGICAL or/and psychiatric disorders;
9. Blood disorders: pancytopenia, HIGH SEDIMENTATION RATE, low alpha2 and gamma globulins, low albumins, low complement etc.;
10. Immunological founding: Anti-dsDNA, Anti-Sm, positive lupus-band-test of the skin etc., and
11. HIGH LEVEL OF ANA (Anti-Nuclear Antibodies).

According to your letter you have the criteria under 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 11 and some under 8 and 9 so there is great possibility that you have lupus. You can request examinations for your rheumatologist for all of the criteria, especially for those under 10.



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