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Lupus
Who has it?
Approximately 1.7 million cases of lupus are reported per year in the United States alone. Lupus can strike men and women of all ages; however, for 80% of individuals with SLE - the most common form of lupus - onset of the disease is at 15-45 years of age. Nearly 90% of individuals diagnosed with SLE are women, and black women are three times as likely to develop lupus as are white women. Women of Hispanic, Asian, and Native American descent are also at greater risk for lupus than white women.
No single test is available to make a definitive diagnosis of lupus. Several tests are usually conducted when lupus is suspected. The most common screening test, the antinuclear antibody (ANA) test, is typically performed when an autoimmune or rheumatic disease, particularly lupus, is suspected. The ANA test can help determine whether autoantibodies, which react against the patient's own tissues and cells, are present.
If an ANA test result is positive, additional testing is performed to confirm a diagnosis of lupus. For example, a biopsy may be performed to test the damaged organs. Other laboratory tests used both in the diagnosis of lupus and to monitor its progression include a complete blood count, urinalysis, blood chemistries, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).
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Who has it?
