Question

When does a positive ANA not contribute to the diagnosis of SLE?

a) In the absence of skin rash
b) In the absence of joint pain
c) In the absence of fatigue
d) In the absence of kidney involvement

Answer 1

A positive ANA test does not contribute to the diagnosis of SLE when the patient does not present any signs or symptoms of SLE. Positive ANA can be found in various conditions and healthy individuals, so it must be accompanied by clinical evidence of SLE according to diagnostic criteria.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering the diagnosis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), a positive Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) test can indicate the possibility of this autoimmune condition. However, a positive ANA alone is not conclusive for SLE diagnosis as ANA can be positive in a variety of other conditions and even in healthy individuals. The question at hand is when a positive ANA does not contribute to the diagnosis of SLE. The answer is that a positive ANA test does not contribute to the diagnosis of SLE when the individual does not have any clinical signs or symptoms associated with SLE, regardless of whether this is in the absence of skin rash, joint pain, fatigue, or kidney involvement. SLE is diagnosed based on a combination of clinical findings and laboratory tests. Therefore, a positive ANA test without the presence of specific signs and symptoms of SLE, as per the American College of Rheumatology criteria, does not support the diagnosis on its own.