Overview of FM  Diagnosis of FM
  Treatment of FM
  Find a specialist
Pain Amplification
Myofascial Pain
Tender points  
  Exercise advice
Patient's advice
  Lupus and FM
  Sjogren's and FM
Pregnancy in FM
  Disability and FM
  Herbal /dietary
Body mass (BMI)
Growth Hormone 
  Relaxation
  Having surgery?
 Frida Kahlo
Controversies
 

 

Diagnosing Lupus (SLE) The American College of Rheumatology have developed criteria for diagnosing lupus - just as they have for diagnosing fibromyalgia. They are as follows:   Criteria Definition 1 Malar rash Fixed erythema over cheeks but sparing nose-cheek folds 2 Discoid rash Raised red patches with scarring in older lesions 3 Photosensitivity Skin rash as a result of unusual reaction to sunlight 4 Mouth ulcers Oral or nasal ulcers - must be observed by a physician 5 Arthritis Tenderness and swelling in at least 2 joints observed by a physician 6 Serositis Either: 1. Pleurisy on examination by a physician or Xray changes or 2. Pericarditis noted by a physician or ECG changes 7 Kidney disease 1. Persistent protein in the urine of 0.5 grams or more or 2. Cellular casts (maybe red cells, white cells or hemoglobin) 8 Blood disease One of the 4 following: Hemolytic anemia with reticulocytosis Leukopenia with a white cell count of less than 4,000/mm2 Lymphopenia with a lymphocyte count of less than 1,500/mm2 Thrombocytopenia with a platelet count of less that 100,000/mm2 9 Brain disease Either: 1. Psychosis or 2. Seizures. Both must be without other causes 10 Positive ANA An abnormal titer of an anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) test in the absence of other diseases or drugs known to cause a positive ANA. 11 Other antibodies Any one of these 4 tests: A positive LE cell preparation A positive test for anti-DNA antibodies A positive test for the Sm nuclear antigen A false positive for syphilis  To have a definite diagnosis of lupus you must have 4 or more of the above features:    Also see:    What is an ANA ?