title: Toward new criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus-a standpoint.
abstract: While clearly different in their aims and means, classification and diagnosis both try to accurately label the disease patients are suffering from. For systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), this is complicated by the multi-organ nature of the disease and by our incomplete understanding of its pathophysiology. Hallmarks of SLE are the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA), and multiple immune-mediated organ symptoms that are largely independent. In an attempt to overcome limitations of the current sets of SLE classification criteria, a new four-phase approach is being developed, which is jointly supported by the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). This review attempts to delineate the performance of the current sets of criteria, the reasons for the decision for classification, and not diagnostic, criteria, and to provide a background of the current approach taken.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine III, University Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus at the TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany Martin.aringer@uniklinikum-dresden.de.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aringer
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin & DRFZ Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dörner
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine III, University Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus at the TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Leuchten
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Toronto Western Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000592:standards*; D012219:Rheumatology; D012955:Societies, Medical
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear
keywords: ANA; Systemic lupus erythematosus; autoantibodies; classification criteria; immune complexes