How to Test for Lupus
Lupus, just like any other autoimmune disease, is very complex and difficult to treat. This disease causes the body's immune system to attack its own cells, including organs and tissue. Lupus is very difficult to diagnose, because a doctor has to rule out a number of other diseases first, and it will often only show symptoms that disappear and reappear throughout a person's life.
- Take a sample of urine. Urine is one of the easiest ways for a doctor to determine if you have lupus. The way the doctor is able to determine this is by looking at the protein levels in your urine as well as any abnormalities. the doctor will look for signs that are similar to kidney disease in order to determine if you have lupus.
- Have your lungs and chest scanned. Lupus can show up in these scans because it causes signs such as inflammation of the lungs, inflammation of the lining of your heart and abdominal inflammation. These tests will not determine whether you have lupus or not, but they will give the doctor a reason to run further tests.
- Have your blood tested. The doctor will look for low levels in red and white blood cells as well as low platelets. If you have all three of these symptoms, then it could be that you have lupus.
- Check for swollen joints. Swollen joints can be caused by a number of your daily activities, but one of the symptoms of lupus is arthritic swelling of the joints. The doctor will have to do tests to verify, but these symptoms should not be ignored.