American College of Rheumatology criteria classification of SLE
What is the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria used in the classification of SLE?
Although not used as often today, the 1997 ACR criteria are used to generate the mnemonic, SOAP-BRAIN-MD , that many medical students use to remember the most characteristic manifestations of SLE:
- S -Serositis: pleuritis or pericarditis
- O -Oral or nasal ulcers
- A -Arthritis: nonerosive
- P -Photosensitivity
- B -Blood disorders: hemolytic anemia, leukopenia, lymphopenia, or thrombocytopenia
- R -Renal involvement: persistent proteinuria or cellular casts
- A -Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs)
- I -Immunologic phenomena: anti-dsDNA, anti-Sm, antiphospholipid antibodies
- N -Neurologic disorder: seizures or psychosis
- M -Malar rash
- D -Discoid rash
Having 4 of these 11 criteria gave an 83% sensitivity and 93% specificity for having SLE.
