Table 1 Features that help to distinguish systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity from pregnancy-induced changes
From: Managing pregnancy in inflammatory rheumatological diseases
Unreliable features | Reliable features |
|---|---|
Facial/palmar erythema | Palpable lupus rash |
Arthralgia | Synovitis |
Anemia | Alopecia (localized) |
Low platelets | Leucopenia (new, not drug-related) |
Hypertension | Red cells or casts (or both) in urine |
Proteinuria | Rising anti-dsDNA (anti-double-stranded DNA) antibodies |
Low C4 with normal C3 | 25% decrease in C3 and C4 (may be in normal range) |
Classical pathway activation | Alternative pathway activation |