Lupus Signs, Symptoms and Diagnosis
By Jeri Jewett-Tennant, MPH, About.com Guide to Lupus
There's a joke on the TV show "House, M.D.," that every mysterious illness must be lupus (but never is). It is a testament to how tricky systemic lupus erythematosus can be to diagnosis and treat. But there are telltale signs and symptoms -- and definitive criteria for diagnosis -- that help make doctors and patients make the call.
Signs and Symptoms
A knowledge of the nuances of lupus, as well as its signs and symptoms, is what helps tip a patient -- and a doctor -- off to the condition.
Diagnosis
If a doctor thinks you may have lupus, how does she go about determining whether you actually do or don't? How does she figure out what form of lupus you have?
