MAUI, Hawaii – Do not diagnose systemic lupus erythematosus based on vague clinical symptoms and an elevated antinuclear antibody blood test.
As incredible as it seems, Dr. Alvin Wells, director of the Rheumatology and Immunotherapy Center in Franklin, Wis., said he sees doctors doing that all the time in his practice.
SLE is a serious and tricky diagnosis that has long-standing consequences for patients, he said.
Even road rage before an appointment can throw off blood tests. Also, SLE doesn’t seem to be one disease, so drugs have to be picked based on manifestations. Belimumab is a good example of that. Dr. Wells explained those and other insights at the Rheumatology Winter Clinical Symposium.