BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) produces a wide range of symptoms, some of them mild; therefore it may be underdiagnosed. In a pilot study we tested the ability of a screening questionnaire to identify undiagnosed cases in the community. METHODS: A 10-item questionnaire was mailed to 3500 women aged 18-65 randomly selected from a general practice list in Birmingham, UK. A random sample of 300 non-respondents were sent two further mailings. Women returning the questionnaire with three positive answers were to attend for an antinuclear antibody (ANA) test; and those testing positive were to be referred to a rheumatologist for standard clinical assessment. FINDINGS: 1153 (30%) of the women responded, and 307 of these gave three or more positive answers on the questionnaire. The survey disclosed three women with previously undiagnosed SLE; and, in addition, it picked up all four of the women whose SLE had been diagnosed previously. INTERPRETATION: The prevalence of SLE revealed by this survey in Birmingham women is 200/100,000 (95% confidence interval 80 to 412), whereas the prevalence of diagnosed SLE in this age group is 54/100,000 (95% CI 47-62). Thus, a substantial number of undiagnosed cases exist, and further work needs to focus on the prevalence in different ethnic groups and the benefits of early diagnosis and treatment.
BACKGROUND:Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) produces a wide range of symptoms, some of them mild; therefore it may be underdiagnosed. In a pilot study we tested the ability of a screening questionnaire to identify undiagnosed cases in the community. METHODS: A 10-item questionnaire was mailed to 3500 women aged 18-65 randomly selected from a general practice list in Birmingham, UK. A random sample of 300 non-respondents were sent two further mailings. Women returning the questionnaire with three positive answers were to attend for an antinuclear antibody (ANA) test; and those testing positive were to be referred to a rheumatologist for standard clinical assessment. FINDINGS: 1153 (30%) of the women responded, and 307 of these gave three or more positive answers on the questionnaire. The survey disclosed three women with previously undiagnosed SLE; and, in addition, it picked up all four of the women whose SLE had been diagnosed previously. INTERPRETATION: The prevalence of SLE revealed by this survey in Birmingham women is 200/100,000 (95% confidence interval 80 to 412), whereas the prevalence of diagnosed SLE in this age group is 54/100,000 (95% CI 47-62). Thus, a substantial number of undiagnosed cases exist, and further work needs to focus on the prevalence in different ethnic groups and the benefits of early diagnosis and treatment.
Authors: Constantin Fesel; Marta Barreto; Ricardo C Ferreira; Nuno Costa; Lara L Venda; Clara Pereira; Claudia Carvalho; Maria Francisca Morães-Fontes; Carlos M Ferreira; Carlos Vasconcelos; João F Viana; Eugenia Santos; Berta Martins; Jocelyne Demengeot; Astrid M Vicente Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-03-29 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Marta Barreto; Ricardo C Ferreira; Lara Lourenço; Maria F Moraes-Fontes; Eugénia Santos; Miguel Alves; Cláudia Carvalho; Berta Martins; Rita Andreia; João F Viana; Carlos Vasconcelos; Luísa Mota-Vieira; Carlos Ferreira; Jocelyne Demengeot; Astrid M Vicente Journal: BMC Immunol Date: 2009-01-27 Impact factor: 3.615