Keywords

autoimmune disease, lupus nephritis, mucocutaneous manifestations, systemic lupus erythematosus

 

Authors

  1. Weinstein, Patricia K. PhD, ARNP

Abstract

Abstract: Systemic lupus erythematosus-a chronic, complex autoimmune disease without a defi nitive diagnostic test-often requires burdensome procedures to confi rm diagnosis. Nurse practitioners must understand lupus' clinical and serologic manifestations to make a diagnosis; some cases may not be identifi ed using only the American College of Rheumatology's criteria.