title: A simple severity of disease index for systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Although indices of activity for systemic lupus erythematosus have been developed and validated, a disease staging system requires the measurement of severity as well. We have constructed such a scale, the Lupus Severity of Disease Index (Lupus SDI). Accepted clinical, pathologic and physiologic classification schemes were employed to validate this index at two separate research institutions. The Lupus SDI allows homogenization of patient populations for the purposes of research and, possibly, for case mix adjustment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington 06030.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Senecal
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rivest
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Goulet
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rothfield
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012984:Software