[Diagnosis of lupus erythematosus]

For the exact classification of lupus erythematosus, morphological criteria alone (clinical picture, histopathology, immunopathology from involved skin, immunoelectron microscopy) are not sufficient. It is the aim of this paper to discuss briefly the known criteria for the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus with particular reference to the interpretation of more recent deagnostic methods (determination of certain antinuclear antibodies; lupus band test; C1q-binding assay.