Antinuclear antibody-negative systemic lupus erythematosus: How many patients and how to identify?

Retrospective review of 617 newly diagnosed SLE patients at a single center found ANA-negative SLE in 2.11% (13/617), significantly more common (7.46%) among patients with prolonged glucocorticoid/immunosuppressant use. Candidate notes: ANA-negative SLE prevalence 2.11% (13/617) 7.46% in the prolonged glucocorticoid/immunosuppressant-use group vs 1.48% in the non-prolonged-use group (p<0.01) ANA-negative SLE: thrombocytopenia 84.62% vs 34.27% in ANA-positive; low complement 92.31%; anti-dsDNA positivity 69.23% Limits noted in the record: Single-center retrospective design with a very small ANA-negative group (n=13) Prolonged immunosuppressant/glucocorticoid use confounds the ANA-negative phenotype: negativity may reflect treatment effect A positive ANA is not a diagnosis. Claims in this record are not verified.

A positive ANA is not a diagnosis. Claims in this record are not verified.

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