Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can be diagnosed by affixing a plurality of light sources and a plurality of light detectors against the subject's body near a joint, and sequentially transmitting light from each of the plurality of light sources into the subject's body. Signals are acquired from each of the plurality of light detectors. The rise time of the acquired signals that occurs in response to an inflation of a pressure cuff is determined, and an indication of whether the joint is affected by SLE is made based on the determined rise time. In some embodiments, a plateau time of the acquired signals is also acquired, and the indication of whether the joint is affected by SLE is made based on the determined rise time and the determined plateau time.
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