Application of the 1982 revised criteria for the classification of systemic lupus erythematosus on a cohort of 346 Norwegian patients with connective tissue disease.
By reviewing patient's records, we evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of the 1982 revised classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus on a cohort of 346 Norwegian patients with connective tissue disease, seen at a rheumatology referral center in the period 1986-95. The patients with CTD other than SLE were used as controls. The number of the 1982 revised classification criteria for SLE fulfilled by each individual patient was calculated. Fifty-five of the 76 SLE patients (72%) met four or more criteria for SLE, giving a low sensitivity of 72%. Twenty-three of the 270 patients with CTD other than SLE (9%) met four or more criteria for SLE, giving an acceptable specificity of 91%. Applying the "revised/revised 1997 ACR criteria for SLE" the sensitivity would have increased to 78% and the specificity reduced to 89%. The sample of SLE patients was characterized by mild disease with a low proportion of severe internal manifestations.
Gilboe
I M
IM
Oslo City Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Norway.
Husby
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies