Medical Mnemonics: Diagnostic Criteria for SLE – Soap Brain MD

It’s Medical Mnemonics Monday! Regardless of whether you’re studying for your ABIM board exam, USMLE Step, ABFM, PANCE exams (or any other medical board exam), it’s important to understand systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Diagnostic criteria for SLE can be remembered by the mnemonic “SOAP BRAIN MD”. The following are the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) diagnostic criteria for SLE, presented in the “SOAP BRAIN MD” mnemonic:

  • Serositis – Pleurisy, pericarditis
  • Oral ulcers
  • Arthritis
  • Photosensitivity
  • Blood disorders
  • Renal involvement
  • Antinuclear antibodies
  • Immunologic phenomena
  • Neurologic disorder
  • Malar rash
  • Discoid rash
    SLE Diagnostic Criteria - SOAP BRAIN MD

    SLE Diagnostic Criteria – SOAP BRAIN MD

      You can see a list of our previous Medical Mnemonics here.




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