Lupus Diagnosis

Finding a proper diagnose of Lupus isn’t an easy task for any doctor. Most other diseases that are considered chronic are easier to diagnose than lupus. Today’s technology advancements have made the task easier than it used to be. However, you as a patient can make things easier for proper diagnosis by watching and listening to your body. This article explains how lupus is typically diagnosed.

Lupus Diagnosis

First lupus is generally diagnosed over a period of time, not as a quick one-time assessment. Over a period of time, the patient either falls into the category of having lupus or they don’t. The diagnosis is based on a combination of laboratory tests and symptoms examined over time. Some of the lab tests performed may include:

• Standard Blood Test (CBC- Complete Blood Count)- used to check for red and white blood cell count, serum, and platelets; red cells are responsible for carrying blood to all parts of the body; white cells are responsible for helping the immune system keep away unwanted attackers; serum is a fluid responsible for removing or keeping away blood clots; platelets show up in bone marrow and are responsible for the control of bleeding
• Common Urine Tests- “spot urine” test is used to check for possible kidney problems; since the kidneys are responsible for filtering waste, checking for kidney function is a good place to start; urine tests look for fragments of cells that would typically be removed when kidneys are working normally; proteins(proteinuria) showing up in urine tests can also mean the kidneys aren’t properly functioning
• ANA Test(Antinuclear Antibodies)- used to check for antibodies; antibodies are proteins that the immune system uses to neutralize foreign objects; this isn’t a specific test to check for lupus but is common to check for the presence of antibodies in the blood that can attack and destroy cells and tissue; drawback to this test is one person can alter from positive to negative or negative to positive; lupus is typically diagnosed when foreign antibodies are found in the blood; 97% of patients with lupus will show these unwanted antibodies but this isn’t the sole determination
• Blood Clotting Time Tests- tests used to check for the rate of which blood clots may form; clots can lead to strokes and other health emergencies; if your blood doesn’t clot soon enough then you are more at risk for too much bleeding; Prothrombin Time (PT) is a blood clot test that checks blood clotting and whether a patient may be a risk for excessive bleeding at the site of a cut or wound; Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT) is a test that assesses how long it takes for the blood to clot
• Tissue Biopsies- a small piece of tissue is taken from the body to examine under a microscope; usual locations of a biopsy are skin and kidneys; results could show damage and inflammation to tissue; further examination could search for autoimmune antibodies and determine whether the cause could be medication or infection

As you can see, lupus diagnosis can involve a series of tests. However, even if a patient tests positive in all of these tests, it doesn’t necessarily mean the patient has lupus. However, these tests are certainly the typical process in determining whether a patient might have lupus. Keep a close watch on your body. If you feel you may have lupus or experience symptoms of lupus please contact your primary health care provider for a consultation.

This is a guest post from Tony Bowen. If you wish to submit a guest post in Cytogenetics Cancer Research blog, you can follow this guidelines.

Author Bio:Tony Bowen is a content writer for Online Doctorate Programs and Medical Coding Certification who gives advice on the pursuit of education and living a healthy life. He researches issues of healthcare, education and online phd programs. In his free time he enjoys writing, fishing, hunting, sports, and video games.