Testing clinical criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus in other connective tissue disorders.

The American Rheumatism Association (ARA) clinical criteria have been tested in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), progressive systemic sclerosis, polyarteritis nodosa and polymyositis/dermatomyositis. Hospital admissions from a defined population over the same period were studied. Increased weighting of the scores for the features showing the greatest specificity is suggested. These features are discoid lupus, alopecia, photosensitivity, LE cells and/or antinuclear antibody (ANA) and oral ulcers. Inclusion of histological evidence increased the sensitivity of the SLE scores.