title: Initial evaluation of the arthritic patient. Piecing together the diagnostic clues.
abstract: Evaluation of the arthritic patient as outlined in this article should enable the physician to formulate a working diagnosis that will suggest appropriate therapy. Initial evaluation includes thorough history taking, general and rheumatologic examination, selected laboratory tests (including synovial fluid analysis where appropriate), and radiologic studies. An individualized approach to patients is necessary, since each of the rheumatic diseases can affect patients in different ways.
mesh_terms: D001168:Arthritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D009220:Myositis / Q000175:diagnosis; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000175:diagnosis; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D010808:Physical Examination; D011859:Radiography; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000032:analysis