The arthritis component of the sledai should only be scored if there is joint swelling

Author(s) Mahmoud K.; Md Yusof M.Y.; Dutton K.; Conaghan P.G.; Emery P. et al.
Source Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases; Jun 2021; vol. 80 ; p. 625
Background: SLE disease activity tools do not optimally define disease activity and response. The SLEDAI arthritis item is common, and sufficient to define SRI response. Lupus patients with arthralgia often have no swelling. Glossary definitions of arthritis in different versions of the SLEDAI have included: swelling, swelling between visits, effusion, tenderness, warmth and erythema. MSK ultrasound in SLE can identify synovitis without swelling, ultrasound synovitis is associated with worse symptoms and serology, predicts response to therapy, and is more responsive to therapy than clinical variables. Objective(s): To validate different glossary definitions for SLEDAI arthritis using musculoskeletal ultrasound. 

• Available in full text at Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases from BMJ Journals - NHS