Which laboratory finding is included in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) labs?

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Multiple Choice

Which laboratory finding is included in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) labs?

Autoimmune serology is a cornerstone of SLE evaluation, and a positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) test is the lab finding most consistently included in the initial workup. ANA is highly sensitive for SLE, so most patients with the disease have a positive result, which prompts more specific follow-up testing (such as anti-dsDNA or anti-Smith antibodies and assessment of complements). However, a positive ANA is not exclusive to SLE and can be seen in healthy individuals and other autoimmune conditions, so it alone doesn’t confirm diagnosis. Anemia and leukopenia can occur in SLE but aren’t universal or specific, and antiphospholipid antibodies may be present in some patients but are not a universal lab finding in all SLE cases.

Autoimmune serology is a cornerstone of SLE evaluation, and a positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) test is the lab finding most consistently included in the initial workup. ANA is highly sensitive for SLE, so most patients with the disease have a positive result, which prompts more specific follow-up testing (such as anti-dsDNA or anti-Smith antibodies and assessment of complements). However, a positive ANA is not exclusive to SLE and can be seen in healthy individuals and other autoimmune conditions, so it alone doesn’t confirm diagnosis. Anemia and leukopenia can occur in SLE but aren’t universal or specific, and antiphospholipid antibodies may be present in some patients but are not a universal lab finding in all SLE cases.

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