Application, to Japanese patients, of the 1982 American Rheumatism Association revised criteria for the classification of systemic lupus erythematosus.

The 1982 American Rheumatism Association revised criteria for the classification of systemic lupus erythematosus were tested on Japanese patients. Sensitivity and specificity data were comparable with those presented in the development of the revised criteria by the American Rheumatism Association. Complement determinations were evaluated for their ability to improve the criteria for the diagnosis of early systemic lupus erythematosus.