[Systemic diseases--the significance of early diagnosis exemplified by systemic lupus erythematosus and Wegener's granulomatosis].

New therapeutic modalities have shown remarkable advances in the fields of systemic lupus erythematosus and Wegener's granulomatosis. For an optimal clinical outcome therapy has to be started early and must be adapted to disease activity. Concerning these two points early diagnosis is essential. This aim can be reached by a detailed evaluation of the patient's history by focusing on early symptoms and on typical clinical constellations, taking into account that both diseases show a great variability and sometimes even an insidious course. Immunological tests, capillary microscopy, echocardiography and computed tomography can be very helpful in the diagnosis of these diseases.