Pediatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Differential Diagnoses

Updated: May 06, 2022
  • Author: Marisa S Klein-Gitelman, MD, MPH; Chief Editor: Lawrence K Jung, MD  more...
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DDx

Diagnostic Considerations

As previously mentioned, the ACR classification criteria require 4 of 11 specific findings, which have 96-99% specificity (see History). Differential diagnoses should include the following:

  • Infection

  • Malignancy

  • Toxic exposures

  • Other multisystem diseases

Specific conditions to consider in the differential diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) include the following:

  • Acute anemia

  • Acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis

  • Chronic anemia

  • Angioedema

  • Anti-GBM antibody disease

  • Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome

  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder

  • Specific phobia

  • Trichotillomania

  • Appendicitis

  • Arthritis, conjunctivitis, urethritis syndrome

  • Septic arthritis

  • Autoimmune and chronic benign neutropenia

  • Autoimmune chronic active hepatitis

  • Dilated cardiomyopathy

  • Chronic granulomatous disease

  • Anorexia

  • Bacterial endocarditis

  • Bacterial pericarditis

  • Complement deficiency

  • Complement receptor deficiency

  • Evans syndrome

  • Fever without a focus

  • Fibromyalgia

  • Fulminant hepatic failure

  • Goodpasture syndrome

  • Graves disease

  • Congestive heart failure

  • Hematuria

  • Hemolytic-uremic syndrome

  • Henoch-Schönlein purpura

  • Mitral valve insufficiency

  • Mitral valve prolapse

  • Mixed connective tissue disease

  • Bipolar disorder

  • Depression

  • Dysthymic disorder

  • Hepatitis B

  • Hodgkin disease

  • Hyperthyroidism

  • Hypothyroidism

  • Kawasaki disease

  • Lymphadenopathy

  • Nephritis

  • Nephrotic syndrome

  • Nonviral myocarditis

  • Oliguria

  • Parvovirus B19 infection

  • Pleural effusion

  • Polyarteritis nodosa

  • Proteinuria

  • Rheumatic fever

  • Rheumatic heart disease

  • Serum sickness

  • Sjögren syndrome

  • Systemic sclerosis

  • Thyroid storm

  • Generalized anxiety

  • Behçet syndrome

  • Thyroiditis

  • Urticaria

Differential Diagnoses