Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease. It manifests by total symptoms, involvement of joints, tendons, skin, kidneys, lung, cardiovascular, nervous, haemopoietic systems and others organs and systems. The clinical picture of SLE and its course is various. For evaluation of the activity of SLE we use some scoring systems. By using scoring systems we can estimate a degree of the activity of SLE, reactivation of disease during long-lasting observation and evaluation of therapeutical effect. They are international acknowledged and they are used in comparison of different clinical studies. Except scoring systems for monitoring of the activity of the disease we use damage index (SLICC/ACR). This index evaluates damage of organs and systems, which arises during the active stage of lupus, but it is persistent during the late stage of the disease (when activity of the disease is suppressed). In the care for patients with SLE it is necessary to make the right diagnosis, monitoring of evaluation of its activity, prognostic factors, examination of visceral organs, initiation of therapy, monitoring of patients, effect and adverse events of therapy.
Keywords: diagnosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, classification criteria, SLEDAI, ECLAM, SLICC