title: Crosscultural validation and reliability of 3 disease activity indices in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Rheumatologists from 4 countries, representing 8 rheumatology centers, tested 3 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease activity indices: the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) from Toronto; the Systemic Lupus Activity Measure (SLAM) from Boston and the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) for their reproducibility and validity in the assessment of real patients. Seven patients representing a spectrum of disease manifestations and activity were each examined by 4 of 7 observers from all centers except Toronto, using a Youden square design. Each observer completed all 3 indices and a category rating scale for disease activity on each of the 4 patients seen. All 3 indices detected differences among patients. There was no detectable observer effect among the 7 observers with each of the 3 indices. There was a detectable order effect with the SLAM. The 3 indices are comparable and reproducible for evaluating disease activity in SLE.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto Rheumatology Disease Unit, Wellesley Hospital, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: D D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Gladman
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Goldsmith
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Urowitz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bacon
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bombardier
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Isenberg
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kalunian
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maddison
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nived
mesh_terms: D001900:Boston; D002170:Canada; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D006113:United Kingdom