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Diagnosis and Classification of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

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Outcome Measures and Metrics in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a complex systemic, immune-mediated multi-organ disease without a single diagnostic test. The diagnosis is made by the recognition of patterns of symptoms and signs combined with a variety of radiographic, pathologic, biochemical, and immunologic findings. However, this can result in significant heterogeneity in the spectrum of disease. This heterogeneity can threaten the validity and reliability of SLE research findings. Classification criteria are used to identify more homogeneous groups of patients for inclusion into SLE research studies. In this chapter, we discuss the development of the 2019 EULAR/ACR classification criteria for SLE. We highlight many insights gained about the current thinking around the construct of SLE and implications for SLE diagnosis.

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Change history

  • 09 October 2021

    Chapter 3 in: Z. Touma (ed.), Outcome Measures and Metrics in Systemic Lupus

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Toronto Western Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Sindhu R. Johnson

  2. Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Sindhu R. Johnson

  3. Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine III, University Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine at the TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany

    Martin Aringer

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  1. Sindhu R. Johnson
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  2. Martin Aringer
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Correspondence to Sindhu R. Johnson .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Zahi Touma

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Johnson, S.R., Aringer, M. (2021). Diagnosis and Classification of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. In: Touma, Z. (eds) Outcome Measures and Metrics in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73303-2_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73303-2_3

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