Comparison of different methods of classifying patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
The sensitivity and percent agreement of 3 methods of classifying patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the 1982 American Rheumatism Association (ARA) revised criteria and a simple and full classification tree, were compared using data from The Johns Hopkins Lupus Cohort, a prospective study of 198 patients with SLE. The 1982 revised criteria were significantly more sensitive than the simple classification tree, correctly identifying 184 (93%) cases compared to 168 (85%) (p = 0.016). Agreement between these 2 classification schema was noted in 174 (87%) cases with 164 classified correctly and 10 failing to satisfy either criteria set. The full classification tree correctly identified 186 (94%) cases. There was no difference in the sensitivity of either the 1982 revised criteria or the full classification tree by racial group; however, the simple classification tree was significantly less sensitive among black than Caucasian patients (80 vs 91.5% p = 0.038). Our data support the continued use of the 1982 revised ARA criteria for the classification of patients with SLE for clinical and epidemiologic research studies.
Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Johns Hopkins Medical Institution, Baltimore, MD 21202.
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D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010361:Patients / Q000145:classification*; D011446:Prospective Studies