Table 1.

Clinical and immunological criteria for SLE diagnostic [modified from Ref. (4)].

Clinical criteria

Acute cutaneous lupus

Chronic cutaneous lupus

Oral ulcers: in the absence of other causes

Non-scarring alopecia in the absence of other causes

Synovitis involving two or more joints, characterized by swelling or effusion OR tenderness in 2 or more joints and 30 min or more of morning stiffness

Serositis in the absence of other causes

Renal: 500 mg of protein/24 h urine or red blood cell casts

Neurologic symptoms in the absence of other known causes such as primary vasculitis, infection, and diabetes mellitus, including toxic-metabolic, uremia, and drugs

Hemolytic anemia

Leukopenia (<4000/mm3) or lymphopenia (<1000/mm3): in the absence of other known causes

Thrombocytopenia (<100,000/mm3) in the absence of other known causes

Immunological criteria

Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) titers above laboratory reference range

Anti-dsDNA (double-strand DNA) titers above laboratory reference range. If titer was determined by ELISA consider twice above laboratory reference range

Anti-Sm

Anti-phospholipid antibody: any of the following lupus anticoagulant false-positive rapid plasma reagin (RPR), medium, or high titer of anti-cardiolipin (IgA, IgG, or IgM) or anti-β2 glycoprotein I (IgA, IgG, or IgM) autoantibodies

Low complement: low plasma levels of C3, C4, or CH50

Direct Coombs test positive in the absence of hemolytic anemia