Is there a test to diagnose Lupus and what are the symptoms?

The testing of the antinuclear antibody titer, or ANA titer for short, is the most reliable test. 95% of patients with lupus are positive for the ANA titer. However, lower titers of this test can also be found in elderly patients or some patients with other autoimmune disorders.

There is a cross connection between six autoimmune diseases, probably because they all involve autoimmune antibodies.

Each of these has its own symptom expression. With a flare-up of lupus the sedimentation rate (ESR or erythrocyte sedimentation rate) is elevated and remains so for quite some time, even when the flare-up is abating. As infections can also have an increased ESR, other tests are needed to distinguish between lupus and infection.

One such test is the C-reactive protein, which usually stays normal in a lupus flare, but is elevated in infection. Other blood tests show a low white blood cell count ("leukopenia") and anemia. The anemia can be nonspecific or hemolytic. Low platelet counts less than 100,000 per microliter is also common with lupus.

The ANA titer (result) usually tends to increase with a lupus flare and then get lower again when the flare is over. A more specialized test, antibodies to double stranded DNA, can be found in less than 50% of lupus patients.

The main early symptoms are listed below: However they can occur for many things that are NOT Lupus, so don't get thingy about them..as you will see a bout of the flu shares these symptoms...

Several symptoms are seen in the initial stages of lupus. These include:
- Fatigue, weakness and lethargy
- Joint pain or swelling (experienced by about half of patients)
- Skin rashes (around one in five patients)
- Fever

The link below has simple advice on the different types of Lupus, etc.

Best wishes.

There is no test for lupus. A diagnosis is made based on medical history, symptoms, a VARIETY of lab tests, and when other disease have been ruled out.

You can read about the symptoms at the link provided. Common symptoms include joint pain and/or inflammation, profound fatigue, chest pain on deep breathing, unexplained fevers, anemia, protein in the urine, recurrent rashes or lesions. Not all lupus patients have all symptoms.

My mom passed away on Dec/21st/07... She had been living with Lupus for 11 years. Her docter had her on Prednisone that did more harm then good and I do not reccommend this drug to anyone . The side effects are unsurmountable.This effected her kidneys she had to go on dyalysis,her joints and skin , she was to meet with a specialist from the uk this month they test your DNA for a specific gene.......in our case our whole family would be tested to narrow down and take it from there.
My aunt passed away from Lupus 10 years this February, my sister has Lupus, my uncle has Lupus and my cousin has Lupus. This is just devastating