Lupus Site - a guide for lupus patients and their families

Lupus is characterized by abnormalities in many laboratory test results. These abnormalities are different for every patient and vary significantly during the course of a patient’s disease.

The serial evaluation of an individual’s tests along with the physician’s observations and the patient’s history determine the diagnosis of SLE, its course, and the treatment regimen. All laboratory values must be interpreted in light of the patient’s present status, other correlating laboratory test results, and coexisting illnesses.

Blood tests used to diagnose and monitor lupus -

Albumin
ANA
ANCA (antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies), P-ANCA (perinuclear) C-ANCA (cytoplasmic)
Anti-Cardiolipin (Anti-Phospholipid)
Anti-DNA
Anti-Ro/SS-A
Anti-Sm antibodies
Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)
CBC
Complement studies
Cholesterol
CPK
Creatinine
Creatinine Clearance
Differential Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, Monocytes, Eosinophils, Basophils
ENA (Extractable Nuclear Antigens)
Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (Sed Rate, ESR)
Immunoglobulins (IG)
Iron
Rheumatoid Factor
White Blood Count (WBC, Leukocyte count)

Monitoring disease activity of lupus with blood tests