title: The Importance of an Early Diagnosis in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with a high degree of variability at onset, making it difficult to reach a correct and prompt diagnosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To present the difficulties faced by the clinician in making a SLE diagnosis, based on the characteristics at study entry of an Italian cohort of SLE patients with recent onset as compared to two similar cohorts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Beginning on 1 January 2012 all patients with a diagnosis of SLE (1997 ACR criteria) and disease duration of less than 12 months were consecutively enrolled in a multicenter prospective study. Information on clinical and serological characteristics was collected at study entry and every 6 months thereafter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our cohort consisted of 122 patients, of whom 103 were females. Among the manifestations included in the 1997 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria, cutaneous, articular and hematologic symptoms were the most prevalent symptoms at study entry.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data from the literature confirm that the diagnosis of SLE is challenging, and that SLE is a severe disease even at onset when a prompt diagnosis is necessary for initiating the appropriate therapy.
authors.forename: Gian D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Sebastiani
authors.forename: Immacolata
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Prevete
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iuliano
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Minisola
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D063189:Symptom Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents