Physicians may be ordering unnecessary laboratory investigations routinely for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients at every visit, a recent study found. These results indicate a need for physician education on indications and utility of some of the laboratory tests such as antinuclear antibody (ANA). 2 self-report surveys were developed—a 12-item survey for patients (n=283) and a 13-item survey for rheumatologists (n=86)—that inquired about longitudinal care for SLE. Researchers found:

• Half of the participants were being seen at 3–4-month intervals.
• More than 70% of patients reported being tested for ANA, and 20–30% anti- extractable nuclear antigens (ENA) antibody and Sjögren (SSA/SSB) antibodies, respectively, at each follow-up visit.
• More than 80% of physicians reported seeing their SLE patients at 3–4-month intervals.
• Only 2% reported performing ANA tests at each visit, while 4–5% performed anti-ENA and anti-SSA/SSB antibody tests at each visit for their SLE patients.
• More than 75% of physicians in private practice also ordered sedimentation rate at each visit for their SLE patients.