PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - GLINDA S. COOPER AU - JOAN WITHER AU - TAMARA MCKENZIE AU - JAIME O. CLAUDIO AU - SASHA BERNATSKY AU - PAUL R. FORTIN TI - The Prevalence and Accuracy of Self-Reported History of 11 Autoimmune Diseases DP - 2008 Oct 01 TA - The Journal of Rheumatology PG - 2001--2004 VI - 35 IP - 10 4099 - http://www.jrheum.org/content/35/10/2001.short 4100 - http://www.jrheum.org/content/35/10/2001.full SO - J Rheumatol2008 Oct 01; 35 AB - Objective To determine the prevalence and confirmation rate of autoimmune diseases reported by relatives of patients with lupus and controls. Methods Medical histories were obtained by self-report from 626 first-degree relatives of lupus patients and 267 population controls. Results Of 178 reports of an autoimmune disease, 44% were confirmed by medical records; excluding those whose medical records were unavailable, the confirmation rate was 76%. The prevalence of at least one confirmed autoimmune disease was 12% in lupus relatives and 2% in controls. Conclusion Methods to improve the reliability of self-reported autoimmune disease history could enhance population and clinic-based research.