Lupus diagnosing can be tricky for a variety of reasons. Lupus tends to mimic other diseases. Symptoms may happen suddenly and may disappear just as suddenly. Lupus may slowly progress over a series of months or even years. Lupus diagnosing is not a simple process that can be done with any one simple blood test. It involves meeting with a physician for a complete physical, a series of laboratory tests, and a complete medical history review.

The first thing that the physician must determine in Lupus diagnosing is that there is evidence that the patient has a multi-system disease. The physician will look for symptoms such as Malar rash, Discoid rash, sensitivity to light, skin reactions to exposure to sun, a rash over the cheeks and nose, raised red patches, ulcers of the mouth an nose, arthritis, serositis, pleuritis, pericarditis, Hemolytic anemia, leucopenia, seizures, renal disorder and psychosis or depression. At least four of these problems must be occurring or have occurred, not necessarily simultaneously, to get a Lupus diagnosis.

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Certain tests are also involved in Lupus diagnosing. To test the immune system for Lupus, and LE prep test, an anti-DNA test and a syphilis test (VDRL) are used. Positive and false positives in this test help in Lupus diagnosing.

Testing for lymphocytes and platelets is another part of Lupus diagnosing. If a patient has less than 4,000 white blood cells per cubic millimeter, hemolytic anemia or leucopenia can be diagnosed. A reading of fewer than 1,500 lymphocytes per cubic millimeter will diagnose lymphopenia. Obtaining a reading of fewer than 100,000 platelets per cubic millimeter will diagnose thrombocytopenia. If a patient tests positive for thrombocytopenia, the physician must rule out that the thrombocytopenia was not caused by any drugs the patient was taking. If a patient tests positive for leucopenia and lymphopenia two or more times, this will aid in Lupus diagnosing.

Anti-DNA antibody tests are also used in Lupus diagnosing. These are tests for antibodies in cell genetic material. Anti-Sm antibody test, which tests for antibodies to a nuclear protein, the anti-nuclear antibody test (ANA), which tests for presence of auto-antibodies to cell nuclei in the blood, and testing for the presence of cellular casts, which are elements in the urine that are not normally present, are additional tests used in Lupus diagnosing. Other tests useful in Lupus diagnosing include testing for groups of proteins that cause inflammation during immune reactions (serum complements).
 

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Skin and tissue biopsies can help in getting a Lupus diagnosis. For instance, the presence of antibodies and immune complexes in the Kidney can be detected with a biopsy. These substances are found when Lupus first starts affecting the Kidney. Another test that helps in getting a Lupus diagnosis is getting a positive test for the presence of complement proteins and antibodies on the epidermis (positive band test).

Two other tests that help in Lupus diagnosing is the LE cell prep and the ANA test. The LE cell prep looks for a cell that eats antibody-covered nucleuses of other cells. 90% of Lupus patients test positive for ANA. This test cannot be used by itself in Lupus diagnosing, however, because other illnesses may cause a positive result and 5% of the population tests positive for ANA normally.

Lupus diagnosing may be a long and difficult process but once a Lupus diagnosis it is made, treatment can be started to both reduce symptoms and suppress flashes.

That is why it is important that if you suspect that you have Lupus, work closely with your doctor, keep track of your symptoms and see a specialist who is very familiar with Lupus. Although there is no cure for Lupus, getting a Lupus diagnosis is the first step in controlling the disease and improving the quality of your life.

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