DIAGNOSTIC TEST PANEL 511
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)/Sjogren's Syndrome
Diagnostic test panel for ANA (HEp-2) and antibodies against dsDNA, ANA specificities (Sm, nRNP, SSA/Ro60, SSB, Scl-70, Jo-1), Cardiolipin (IgG, IgM), and Beta-2-Glycoprotein 1 (IgG, IgM). For suspicion of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Indication
Diagnosis or follow-up of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Clinical background
The age of onset of SLE is 20-40 years of age, and it affects women nine times as often as men. The prevalence is about 40 cases per 100,000 people. The disease is chronic, but there are relapses with relatively symptom-free intervals. Inflammation and organ damage occur in different parts of the body as a result of the deposition of immune complexes with accompanying complement activation. The link to MHC is strong, and there are indications of apoptosis disorders and the removal of apoptotic material. This may result in immunogenic nucleosomes that can activate B and T lymphocytes.
The disease may present as arthritis, hypersensitivity to the sun, discoid rashes, butterfly exanthema, cold sores, serositis, renal failure, neurological symptoms, cytopenias, myalgia, myositis or other clinical symptoms like Raynaud’s phenomenon, alopecia, vasculitis, lung and heart symptoms. The etiology remains unknown.
The American College of Rheumatology has published diagnostic criteria for SLE. Four out of eleven must be met. Two criteria include autoantibodies: 1. AntidsDNA of an elevated level or anti-Sm or anti-cardiolipin IgG or IgM; 2. Elevated levels of ANA with IIF without the patient taking medicine may cause syndromes similar to those of lupus.
If there is a clinical suspicion of SLE, the investigation usually starts with ANA. This test has a sensitivity of around 95% but with a low specificity. This means that the clinical significance of a positive ANA in patients with few symptoms is low. Anti-dsDNA seldom occurs in healthy people and is practically pathognomonic for SLE. It occurs in 50-80% of untreated patients with SLE. It is interesting to find that in several studies, the level of the antibody has been shown to vary with disease activity. A high level often correlates with lupus nephritis. An increasing level may also predict relapses of SLE nephritis, whereas a declining level is consistent with reduced disease activity. It is, therefore, important to follow the level during the treatment of lupus nephritis. Anti-Sm antibodies have a very high diagnostic value, as they have a high specificity but a low sensitivity.
A number of other antibodies occur in SLE, and among the more common ones is SSA/B, which may be important to analyze if there is a risk of congenital heart block, especially the 52kD protein and the SSA p200 peptide. Anti-histone antibodies are also common, especially in drug-induced lupus.
Tests included in panel
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How to order
This test panel is available worldwide for hospitals, clinics, and physicians.
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Print and complete the request form
Download the request form. Clearly state the name and phone number of the referring hospital, clinic, or physician. -
Prepare your samples
Serum: At least 1 mL serum (plain serum tubes without additives).
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Send samples and request form
Within Sweden
Samples can be sent at room temperature to:
Envelopes and smaller boxes:
Wieslab AB, Box 50117, 20211 Malmö, Sweden
Larger boxes and frozen samples:
Wieslab AB, Lundavägen 151, 21224 Malmö, Sweden
International
Samples can be sent at room temperature to:
Wieslab AB, Lundavägen 151, 21224 Malmö, Sweden
Last updated: 2025-08-18
