Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - Diagnosis

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Click the icon to see an image of an electrocardiogram.

Central Nervous System Complications. SLE occurring in the central nervous system (CNS) can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are easily confused with other psychiatric and neurologic conditions.

• Tests of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for elevated levels of autoantibodies are the most reliable ways to detect CNS complications caused by a faulty immune system.
• Additional tests, including electroencephalograms (EEGs), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), or x-rays may be useful when blood vessel blockage in the brain is suspected.
• If the doctor suspects that CNS symptoms are caused by infection, especially for patients who are receiving immunosuppressant therapy, a lumbar puncture should be performed.

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Osteoporosis. To detect early osteoporosis in patients with SLE whose disease has lasted more than 3.5 years, experts recommend an imaging test called dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) to measure bone mineral density.

Review Date: 01/02/2007
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).