title: Laboratory tests in rheumatology.
abstract: The most commonly used laboratory tests in the diagnosis and monitoring of rheumatic diseases are reviewed. Particular emphasis is placed on antinuclear antibodies as markers of specific rheumatic disorders and disease subsets. The use of synovial fluid tests to differentiate between inflammatory and noninflammatory rheumatic disorders is described as well as the use of common hematological tests.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Dept., Ospedale L. Sacco, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Signò
mesh_terms: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D007159:Immunologic Tests; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood; D013301:Streptolysins / Q000276:immunology; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry