The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has a list of symptoms and other measures that doctors can use as a guide to decide if a patient with symptoms has lupus. If your doctor finds that you have at least four of these problems, and finds no other reason for them, you may have lupus:
- Malar Rash
- The malar rash, or butterfly rash, is a red flat facial rash involving the malar region bilaterally and the bridge of the nose. The presence of a butterfly rash is generally a sign of lupus erythematosus (LE), but it can also include a plethora of conditions.
- Discoid Rash
- Cutaneous lesion that develops as a dry, scaly, red patch that evolves to an indurated and hyperpigmented plaque with adherent scale. Scarring may result in central white patches (loss of pigmentation) and skin atrophy.
- Photosensitivity
- Photosensitivity is an abnormal reaction to sunlight.
- Oral Ulcers
- Oral ulcers are sores or open lesions in the mouth.
- Nonerosive Arthritis
- Involving 2 or more peripheral joints, characterized by tenderness, swelling, or effusion. Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints and it involves the breakdown of cartilage
- Pleuritis or Pericarditis
- Pleuritis: Inflammation of the lining of the lungs and chest (the pleura) that leads to chest pain (usually sharp) when you take a breath or cough.
- Pericarditis: Pericarditis is a condition in which the sac-like covering around the heart (pericardium) becomes inflamed.
- Renal Disorder
- Damage to or disease of a kidney.
- Neurologic Disorder
- Neurologic disorders are diseases of the brain, spinal cord and nerves throughout your body. Together they control all the workings of the body. When something goes wrong with a part of your nervous system, you can have trouble moving, speaking, swallowing, breathing or learning. You can also have problems with your memory, senses or mood.
- Hematologic Disorder
- Hematologic disorders affect one or more parts of the blood and prevent your blood from doing its job. They can be acute or chronic. Many blood disorders are inherited. Other causes include other diseases, side effects of medicines, and a lack of certain nutrients in your diet.
- Immunologic Disorder
- Anti-DNA: antibody to native DNA in abnormal titer, or (2) Anti-Sm: presence of antibody to Sm nuclear antigen, or (3) Positive finding of antiphospholipid antibodies
- Positive Antinuclear Antibody
Source: Rheumatology.org
