It is hard to say if your sister is
experiencing the symptoms of lupus, or
not. Lupus manifests with a skin rash and
affects the joints... but it has to be
confirmed with more symptoms and
laboratory analyses. For lupus, the
patient should have at least 4 of these
criteria:
1. facial rash;
2. redness with hyperkeratosis and atrophy
on the skin;
3. photosensitivity;
4. painless ulcerations of the oral and
nasal mucosa;
5. joint inflammation on 2 or more
peripheral joints;
6. pleurisy or pericarditis;
7. laboratory signs for renal failure;
8. neurological disturbances;
9. blood disturbances (decreasing of the
number of erythrocytes, leucocytes and
thrombocytes);
10. detection of auto-antibodies
(anti-DNA, anti-ANA, anti-Sm, etc.), and
11. positive lupus-band-test
(immuno-histology) on not affected skin.
Your sister can follow up at her doctor's
office and seek a diagnosis from a
specialist.
DISCLAIMER:
"Ask a Doctor" Questions are answered by Dr. Nikola Gjuzelov, General Practitioner. Dr. Gjuzelov practices medicine for the general public and is affiliated with the Republic of Macedonia Public Health Institution. For more information about Dr. Gjuzelov or other eHealthForum.com medical experts, please visit our About Us page. You may also visit our Lupus Forum, for moderated patient to patient support and information.
The material presented in the eHealth Forum Discussion Forums and Ask A Doctor is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified licensed medical professional. eHealth Forum and eHealth Forum's Ask A Doctor advises all users with health problems and concerns to consult their personal doctors. Furthermore, if you have any questions or concerns about your condition, you must consult your qualified licenseced medical professional before starting any treatment.
The materials in the eHealth Forum Discussion Forums and Ask A Doctor cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. To the fullest extent possible, eHealth Forum and eHealth Forum's Ask A Doctor expressly excludes all liability in respect of the information and opinions contained in the Discussion Forums and Ask A Doctor, this Web site, or any sites linked to this Web site.
