Biomaterial Database

Diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus. The value of immunologic tests. 1984

L H Calabrese

A variety of immunologic tests are now available to assist the clinician in the differential diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and related disorders. Knowledge of the sensitivity and specificity of each test is critical for proper clinical interpretation. Also important is a detailed consideration of the clinical situation and the pretest estimate of the likelihood SLE is present. The antinuclear antibody (ANA) test is the most sensitive test for SLE and is therefore the best screening assay for ruling out its presence. Anti-native (N)-DNA and anti-Sm (Smith antigen) tests are highly specific for SLE and have strong confirmatory powers, even in a patient unlikely to have the disease. New information regarding the operating characteristics of tests for SLE and a recent trend toward more analytic and cost-conscious use of the laboratory should allow clinicians to make more rational and cost-effective decisions about methods of diagnosis. Combination sequential testing seems to be a logical approach.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008180	Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic	A chronic, relapsing, inflammatory, and often febrile multisystemic disorder of connective tissue, characterized principally by involvement of the skin, joints, kidneys, and serosal membranes. It is of unknown etiology, but is thought to represent a failure of the regulatory mechanisms of the autoimmune system. The disease is marked by a wide range of system dysfunctions, an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and the formation of LE cells in the blood or bone marrow.	Libman-Sacks Disease,Lupus Erythematosus Disseminatus,Systemic Lupus Erythematosus,Disease, Libman-Sacks,Libman Sacks Disease
D009504	Neutrophils	Granular leukocytes having a nucleus with three to five lobes connected by slender threads of chromatin, and cytoplasm containing fine inconspicuous granules and stainable by neutral dyes.	LE Cells,Leukocytes, Polymorphonuclear,Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes,Polymorphonuclear Neutrophils,Neutrophil Band Cells,Band Cell, Neutrophil,Cell, LE,LE Cell,Leukocyte, Polymorphonuclear,Neutrophil,Neutrophil Band Cell,Neutrophil, Polymorphonuclear,Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte,Polymorphonuclear Neutrophil
D003165	Complement System Proteins	Serum glycoproteins participating in the host defense mechanism of COMPLEMENT ACTIVATION that creates the COMPLEMENT MEMBRANE ATTACK COMPLEX. Included are glycoproteins in the various pathways of complement activation (CLASSICAL COMPLEMENT PATHWAY; ALTERNATIVE COMPLEMENT PATHWAY; and LECTIN COMPLEMENT PATHWAY).	Complement Proteins,Complement,Complement Protein,Hemolytic Complement,Complement, Hemolytic,Protein, Complement,Proteins, Complement,Proteins, Complement System
D004247	DNA	A deoxyribonucleotide polymer that is the primary genetic material of all cells. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms normally contain DNA in a double-stranded state, yet several important biological processes transiently involve single-stranded regions. DNA, which consists of a polysugar-phosphate backbone possessing projections of purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (thymine and cytosine), forms a double helix that is held together by hydrogen bonds between these purines and pyrimidines (adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine).	DNA, Double-Stranded,Deoxyribonucleic Acid,ds-DNA,DNA, Double Stranded,Double-Stranded DNA,ds DNA
D005455	Fluorescent Antibody Technique	Test for tissue antigen using either a direct method, by conjugation of antibody with fluorescent dye (FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TECHNIQUE, DIRECT) or an indirect method, by formation of antigen-antibody complex which is then labeled with fluorescein-conjugated anti-immunoglobulin antibody (FLUORESCENT ANTIBODY TECHNIQUE, INDIRECT). The tissue is then examined by fluorescence microscopy.	Antinuclear Antibody Test, Fluorescent,Coon's Technique,Fluorescent Antinuclear Antibody Test,Fluorescent Protein Tracing,Immunofluorescence Technique,Coon's Technic,Fluorescent Antibody Technic,Immunofluorescence,Immunofluorescence Technic,Antibody Technic, Fluorescent,Antibody Technics, Fluorescent,Antibody Technique, Fluorescent,Antibody Techniques, Fluorescent,Coon Technic,Coon Technique,Coons Technic,Coons Technique,Fluorescent Antibody Technics,Fluorescent Antibody Techniques,Fluorescent Protein Tracings,Immunofluorescence Technics,Immunofluorescence Techniques,Protein Tracing, Fluorescent,Protein Tracings, Fluorescent,Technic, Coon's,Technic, Fluorescent Antibody,Technic, Immunofluorescence,Technics, Fluorescent Antibody,Technics, Immunofluorescence,Technique, Coon's,Technique, Fluorescent Antibody,Technique, Immunofluorescence,Techniques, Fluorescent Antibody,Techniques, Immunofluorescence,Tracing, Fluorescent Protein,Tracings, Fluorescent Protein
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000906	Antibodies	Immunoglobulin molecules having a specific amino acid sequence by virtue of which they interact only with the ANTIGEN (or a very similar shape) that induced their synthesis in cells of the lymphoid series (especially PLASMA CELLS).
D000936	Antigen-Antibody Complex	The complex formed by the binding of antigen and antibody molecules. The deposition of large antigen-antibody complexes leading to tissue damage causes IMMUNE COMPLEX DISEASES.	Immune Complex,Antigen-Antibody Complexes,Immune Complexes,Antigen Antibody Complex,Antigen Antibody Complexes,Complex, Antigen-Antibody,Complex, Immune,Complexes, Antigen-Antibody,Complexes, Immune
D000974	Antibodies, Antinuclear	Autoantibodies directed against various nuclear antigens including DNA, RNA, histones, acidic nuclear proteins, or complexes of these molecular elements. Antinuclear antibodies are found in systemic autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren's syndrome, scleroderma, polymyositis, and mixed connective tissue disease.	Anti-DNA Antibodies,Antibodies, Anti-DNA,Antinuclear Antibodies,Antinuclear Autoantibodies,Antinuclear Autoantibody,Antinuclear Factors,Antinuclear Antibody,Antinuclear Factor,Anti DNA Antibodies,Antibody, Antinuclear,Autoantibody, Antinuclear,Factor, Antinuclear
D012698	Serologic Tests	Diagnostic procedures involving immunoglobulin reactions.	Serodiagnosis,Serologic Test,Serological Tests,Test, Serologic,Tests, Serologic,Serodiagnoses,Serological Test,Test, Serological,Tests, Serological