INFO - Laboratory Testing in the Rheumatic Diseases: A Practical Review

[Guest guest]

Southern Medical Association

2005

Key Points

While laboratory testing can help with the diagnosis

of rheumatic disease, overreliance on a lab result may

lead the clinician to an incorrect diagnosis.

Antinuclear antibodies are present in a number of connective

tissue diseases; while nearly all patients with

lupus are ANA-positive, the high number of false positives

limits its utility as a screening test.

New tests, such as the cyclic citrullinated protein antibody,

may improve early identification of patients

with rheumatoid arthritis, particularly those with a

prognosis for a more aggressive disease.

" Laboratory Testing in the Rheumatic Diseases: A Practical Review " :

http://www.sma.org/smj2005/2/03Laboratory%20Testing%20in%20the%20Rheumatic%20Dis\

eases.pdf

(PDF)

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Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org