Diagnosis and management of systemic lupus erythematosus.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is not a rare disease. There are several common clinical signs which should alert the physician to a possible diagnosis of SLE and which should condition him to look for specific clinical and laboratory findings. In addition to simple screening tests, useful procedures include a search for antinuclear antibodies, lupus erythematosus (LE) cells, anti-DNA antibodies and low serum complement. Management is determined by the type of course encountered but most patients will do well under the care of their family physician.
D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007105:Immune Complex Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000473:pathology; D008179:Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid / Q000175:diagnosis; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D009504:Neutrophils; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D011241:Prednisone