ABSTRACT
DIAGNOSIS SLE is a chronic multisystemic immunologic disease supported by the presence of autoantibodies in patients with clinical manifestations. The diagnosis can be challenging. Diagnostic criteria (ACR and SLICC) have been published. ACR criteria were developed in 1982 and revised in 1997: need ≥4/11 criteria to make diagnosis of SLE-either serially or simultaneously (Table 25.1) [1]. The ACR criteria were revised and validated to reflect new knowledge and attempt
to reflect better clinical and immunologic aspects of the disease. The 2012 validated SLICC diagnosis needs 4/17 criteria with at least one clinical criteria and one immunologic criteria OR lupus nephritis by renal biopsy in the presence of ANA or anti ds-DNA antibodies (Table 25.2) [2]. The SLICC criteria were found to have better sensitivity (97% vs. 83%), less specificity (84% vs. 96%), and less misclassified cases (n = 62 vs. n = 74) when compared to the ACR criteria. Currently, either diagnostic criteria are used and acceptable.
