How do you approach interpreting a low titer dsDNA (such as crithidia 1:40 to 1:80) in the setting of a moderately elevated ANA without other specific features of SLE?

For example, the patient may have other findings such as an elevated CRP. Would you diagnose SLE, or would you want to see other serologies or findings such as low complements?

Answer from: at Community Practice

Serologies are not a diagnosis nor are they diagnostic. This patient does not NOW have lupus. Are there first-degree relatives with SLE? Does this patient have any other autoimmune disorders like Hashimoto thyroiditis? What to do? Follow-up and education. Routine follow-up and welcome phone calls t...

Answer from: at Community Practice

We can see this scenario in numerous situations, such as in patients with Raynaud's, peripheral neuropathy (and numerous other neurologic manifestations), nonspecific rashes (e.g. vasculitis, livedo reticularis, idiopathic urticaria, etc), idiopathic anemia of inflammation, polyarthralgia without ob...

Comments

at Hill Physicians
Thanks for your thoughtful and detailed answer. Wh...

at Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS)
@Roger Wang: Thanks for asking and I should be mor...

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How do you approach interpreting a low titer dsDNA (such as crithidia 1:40 to 1:80) in the setting of a moderately elevated ANA without other specific features of SLE?

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