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Systemic lupus erythematosus

最后审阅: 26 Sep 2025
最后更新: 05 Oct 2023

小结

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • malar (butterfly) rash
  • photosensitive rash
  • discoid rash
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • fatigue
  • weight loss
  • fever
  • oral ulcers
  • alopecia
  • arthralgia/arthritis
  • fibromyalgia
  • Raynaud phenomenon
  • chest pain and shortness of breath
  • venous or arterial thrombosis
  • hypertension
  • signs of nephrosis (e.g., edema)
  • lymphadenopathy
  • abdominal pain, vomiting, or diarrhea
  • nose ulcers
  • poorly localized proximal limb inflammatory pain with weakness
  • dysrhythmias (e.g., tachycardia), conduction defects, or unexplained cardiomegaly
  • CNS signs: seizures, cranial nerve abnormalities, cognitive defects, psychosis
  • dysphagia
Full details

Risk factors

  • female sex
  • age >30 years
  • African descent in Europe and US
  • drugs
  • sun exposure
  • family history of SLE
  • tobacco smoking
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • complete blood count and differential
  • activated partial thromboplastin time
  • BUN and electrolytes
  • erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein
  • antinuclear antibodies, double-stranded (ds)DNA, Smith antigen
  • urinalysis
  • chest x-ray
  • ECG
Full details

Tests to consider

  • blood and urine cultures
  • antiphospholipid antibodies
  • Coombs test
  • 24-hour urine collection for protein or spot urine for protein/creatinine ratio
  • complement levels
  • creatine phosphokinase
  • plain x-rays of affected joint(s)
  • renal ultrasound
  • chest computed tomography
  • pulmonary function tests
  • pleural aspiration
  • brain magnetic resonance imaging
  • echocardiography
  • skin biopsy
  • renal biopsy
  • thyroid-stimulating hormone
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ONGOING

joint symptoms and serositis

mucocutaneous disease

lupus nephritis

neuropsychiatric lupus

hematologic manifestations

Contributors

Authors

Meng May Chee, MBChB, MRCP

Consultant Rheumatologist

Queen Elizabeth University Hospital

Glasgow

UK

Disclosures

MMC was sponsored by Abbvie to attend the European League Against Rheumatism 2020 online conference.

Rajan Madhok, MD, FRCP(Glasg)

Consultant Physician and Rheumatologist

Department of Rheumatology

Glasgow Royal Infirmary

Glasgow

UK

Disclosures

RM holds shares in GSK to the value less than £12,000.

Acknowledgements

Dr Meng May Chee and Dr Rajan Madhok would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Gayle McKellar, a previous contributor to this topic.

Disclosures

GM declares that she has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

James C. Oates, MD

Associate Director

Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston

SC

利益声明

JCO declares that he has no competing interests.

Nancy J. Olsen, MD, PhD

Professor of Medicine

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Dallas

TX

利益声明

NJO declares that she has no competing interests.

Peer reviewer acknowledgements

BMJ Best Practice topics are updated on a rolling basis in line with developments in evidence and guidance. The peer reviewers listed here have reviewed the content at least once during the history of the topic.

Disclosures

Peer reviewer affiliations and disclosures pertain to the time of the review.

参考文献

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参考文献

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
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