What Is Lupus Diagnosis

The most useful tests identify certain autoantibodies that are often present in the blood of lupus patients.

What is lupus diagnosis. Your doctor may say you have lupus if you have at least four of 11 signs of the disease that are laid out by experts at the american college of rheumatology butterfly shaped rash raised red pat. Skin lesions that appear or worsen with sun exposure photosensitivity fingers and toes. Inflammation can occur on the inside of your body your kidneys or heart for example on the outside your skin or both. Signs and symptoms of lupus may vary over time and overlap with those of many other disorders.

Joint pain stiffness and swelling. The combination of blood and urine tests signs and symptoms and physical examination findings leads to the diagnosis. A doctor who is considering the possibility of lupus will look for signs of inflammation which include pain heat redness swelling and loss of function at a particular place in the body. Division of population health national center for chronic disease prevention and health promotion centers for disease control and prevention.

Making a lupus diagnosis is kind of like putting together a puzzle. Diagnosis while no single test can determine whether a person has lupus several laboratory tests may help the doctor confirm a diagnosis or at least rule out other ailments. The most common signs and symptoms include. An autoimmune disease is a condition in which the body s immune system attacks healthy organs or tissues.

Lupus affects everyone differently. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes swelling inflammation and a wide variety of symptoms. Learn what doctors look for and the tests they use to diagnose lupus. Some people have only a few mild symptoms and others have.

If enough of the pieces fit together you may be diagnosed with lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects about 5 million people around the world. Your doctor will look at several different puzzle pieces. What questions will my doctor ask.

Diagnosing lupus is difficult because signs and symptoms vary considerably from person to person. Lupus symptoms lupus symptoms might develop quickly or they may come on slowly. Your symptoms medical history family history and lab tests. Butterfly shaped rash on the face that covers the cheeks and bridge of the nose or rashes elsewhere on the body.