title: Acute phase reactants in predicting disease outcome.
abstract: From the studies which are reviewed above, it is generally apparent that in terms of the acute phase response, the initial findings in early inflammatory arthritis (particularly rheumatoid arthritis, with which the majority of such studies are concerned) have little predictive value for either the functional outcome or mortality. The wide interindividual variability in these measurements is also likely to limit their clinical usefulness as predictors of disease outcome. The trend in certain acute phase reactants may be more useful in indicating disease activity, although the number of satisfactory studies in this area is very limited.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Whicher
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Banks
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D001168:Arthritis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D016207:Cytokines