Top 10 facts about the world. Hand atrophy is a condition that causes muscles of the hand deteriorate and wither away. Also called muscle wasting, hand atrophy leads the muscles to begin to lose their bulk and strength. This in turn may cause a general decrease in the ability of the hand to move.
Why the test is used: Between 75% and 90% of people with lupus have a positive anti-dsDNA test. Also, the test is very specific for lupus. Therefore, a positive test can be useful in confirming a diagnosis. For many people, the titer, or level, of the antibodies rises as the disease becomes more active.
Urinalysis - This exam can measure the protein and cells in your urine which can be an early warning of kidney disease in lupus patients. Complete blood count (CBC) - measures the cell counts in your blood which include white blood cells, red blood cells, hemoglobin and platelet counts. White blood cells can be decreased in lupus and may be a sign of active disease or drug-related side effect. Patients with lupus may have a mild anemia manifested by a low hemoglobin level. Causes of anemia include iron deficiency, active inflammation or less frequently, hemolytic anemia which is caused by autoantibodies to red blood cells.