Describe the disease, its prevalence, its incidence and general knowledge of the disease. Discuss the laboratory testing that can be done.

The autoimmune condition lupus affects approximately 1.5 million Americans, mainly women. Inflammation and damage in various organs can result in a range of symptoms such as fatigue, joint discomfort and skin lesions. Diagnostic criteria include a clinical examination and lab testing.

Antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-double stranded dsDNA (dsDNA), and levels of complement are the most commonly used laboratory tests to diagnose lupus. ANA testing looks for autoantibodies that target components of the patient’s own cells while dsDNA tests detect antibodies directed against double stranded DNA molecules associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Complement levels are also helpful in confirming diagnosis since they provide information about any deficiencies or abnormalities present in the patient’s immune system.

These tests can help to determine whether the symptoms experienced by a patient are caused by lupus, or if they could be due to other causes like infections or adverse drug reactions. These tests also provide information on the prognosis, which can help develop treatment plans to reduce flare-ups and manage symptoms.