title: Laboratory tests in pediatric rheumatology.
abstract: Laboratory tests in rheumatology are important tools that help to support the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases, evaluate the disease activity, monitor the side effects of therapy, and also assist the physician to exclude rheumatologic mimics. Few relevant tests should be ordered after a detailed clinical review of the patient has been carried out and a provisional clinical diagnosis has been reached. There is no test that can rule in or rule out any rheumatologic disease and therefore, there is no role of a detailed "Rheumatology panel" of investigations. In this review, routine blood investigations, acute phase reactants, auto antibodies, HLA B27 and complements have been discussed.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Rheumatology Unit, Centre for Child Health, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Manjari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: Sujata
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sawhney
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D005260:Female; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods; D010372:Pediatrics; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor