title: Laboratory diagnosis and monitoring of rheumatologic diseases.
abstract: Improved laboratory investigative techniques now foster an increased clinical interest in and awareness of the rheumatologic disease. This review is a discussion of the relevance of laboratory tests used in the more common rheumatologic disorders and of their role in both the diagnosis and assessment of these diseases from the standpoint of the practising clinician.
mesh_terms: D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D000818:Animals; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000175:diagnosis; D016918:Arthritis, Reactive / Q000175:diagnosis; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis; D002908:Chronic Disease; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D003095:Collagen Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000175:diagnosis; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis; D009220:Myositis / Q000175:diagnosis; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000175:diagnosis; D011111:Polymyalgia Rheumatica / Q000175:diagnosis; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D012213:Rheumatic Fever / Q000175:diagnosis; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000175:diagnosis; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000032:analysis / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor