title: Applications of polymerase chain reaction in rheumatology.
abstract: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a highly sensitive and specific method for detection and quantification of specific nucleic acids from a clinical sample. With its use, genetic, infectious, neoplastic, and autoimmune diseases can be diagnosed and managed with a high level of sensitivity, accuracy, and rapidity. This technique exactly reproduces unlimited copies of DNA, even if only a small amount are present initially. PCR assays can detect presence of fastidious and slow-growing microorganisms, such as chlamydia, mycoplasmas, mycobacterias, and viruses directly from clinical specimens and also can detect antimicrobial resistance. The value of viral load measurement by nucleic acid amplification in the management of patients with HIV infection or hepatitis C has also been well established. From the point of view of a clinician, the applications of PCR are focused mainly in the amplification and detection of diagnostic DNA segments from the genomes of both pathogens and patients.
authors.affiliation: Section of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1542 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA. rcucha@lsuhsc.edu
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cuchacovich
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Quinet
authors.forename: Ana Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Santos
mesh_terms: D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D016918:Arthritis, Reactive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial / Q000235:genetics; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D005784:Gene Amplification; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D005827:Genetics, Microbial; D015894:Genome, Human; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000145:classification / Q000379:methods*; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D015866:Uveitis, Posterior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics