title: Laboratory testing in arthritic disease.
abstract: Rheumatoid autoantibodies, acute phase reactants of inflammation, and other laboratory indices of the inflammatory response lack the specificity necessary to follow adequately the course of arthritic disease or the efficacy of their treatment regimens. Routine laboratory tests are better utilized to follow the potential complications of pharmacologic therapy. A review of the traditional laboratory tests used for the arthritides is presented.
mesh_terms: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D001168:Arthritis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis; D012698:Serologic Tests; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D006680:HLA Antigens; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor