Primary Care Perspectives: Diagnosing Lupus: The Details of Symptoms, Clinical Evaluation and Labs - Episode 132

Primary Care Perspectives: Podcast for Pediatricians

Lupus is one of the most common diseases in pediatric rheumatology, but it is complicated to diagnose because its symptoms can be broad and nonspecific, creating overlap with other diagnoses. Sarah Bayefsky, MD, a pediatric and adult rheumatology fellow at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and Melissa Argraves, MD, MSEd, a pediatric rheumatologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, discuss what a primary care physician should look for if suspecting pediatric-onset lupus — a disease that is seen primarily in teenagers, and in particular females of color. They explain the nuances of possible symptoms; what can be observed during a clinical visit; what labs to order; and what a PCP should keep an eye on if a patient has been diagnosed with lupus.