Description

A number of conditions may mimic systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It is important to consider them to avoid misdiagnosis.


Features that may be shared with SLE:

(1) elevated ANA

(2) one or more clinical findings (skin rash, arthritis, proteinuria, etc)

 

Infections:

(1) parvovirus B19

(2) CMV

(3) EBV

(4) HIV

(5) leprosy

(6) Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease

(7) endocarditis

(8) viral hepatitis

(9) visceral leishmaniasis

(10) Whipple's disease

(11) Lyme disease

 

Drugs

(1) hydralazine

(2) procainamide

 

Benign or malignant neoplasms:

(1) angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma

(2) Castleman's disease

(3) Hodgkin's disease

(4) Meig's syndrome

(5) atrial myxoma

(6) thymoma

(7) paraneoplastic reactions to lung, breast or other solid tumors

 

Other autoimmune disorders:

(1) Evans' syndrome

(2) interferonopathy

(3) prolidase deficiency

(4) dermatomyositis

(5) mixed connective tissue disease

(6) Sjogren's syndrome

(7) autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome

 

Other immune disorders:

(1) multiple sclerosis

(2) graft vs host disease

(3) IgG4 disease

(4) Ackerman's syndrome (erythema elevatum diutinum with polyarthritis)

(5) cryoglobulinemia

(6) complement deficiencies

(7) Still's disease

(8) primary immunodeficiencies


To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.