The application of laboratory tests in pediatric rheumatology practice

Abstract

Rheumatologic diseases in children are an important group of disorders that may lead to severe complications and growth retardation. There are no specific diagnostic tests for rheumatologic diseases, except for anti-nuclear antibody and anti-dsDNA for systemic lupus erythematosus and c-ANCA for Wegener\'s disease. Because of, taking a detailed patient\'s medical history and performing a good physical examination most probably can provide a diagnosis, and there is no specific test or “test panel” to diagnose or exclude rheumatologic disorders; it is imperative to choose laboratory tests selectively, based on a good clinical knowledge. Another important point is the existence of false positive test results in normal healthy population. In this review, the use laboratory investigations and their importance in diagnosis and follow up of disease in pediatric rheumatology practice has been discussed. J Clin Exp Invest 2013; 4 (2): 443-446

Keywords

• Pediatric rheumatology, laboratory investigations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis

The application of laboratory tests in pediatric rheumatology practice

Abstract

Çocuklarda romatizmal hastalıklar ciddi komplikasyonlara ve büyüme-gelişme geriliğine yol açabilen önemli bir hastalık grubudur. Anti-nükleer antikorlar ve anti-ds DNA\'nın sistemik lupus eritematozus için ve c-ANCA\'nın Wegener hastalığı için tanısal kriter olması dışında, romatizmal hastalıklar için tanı koyduracak spesifik testler bulunmamaktadır. Çocuk romatolojisinde ayrıntılı bir hastalık öyküsü ve iyi bir fizik muayene ile çok yüksek oranda hastalık tanısı konabildiği ve hastalıklar için tanı koydurucu veya ekarte ettirici özgül tek bir test veya “test paneli” bulunmadığı için, laboratuvar testlerini iyi bir klinik bilgi temelinde seçici olarak istemek gerekir. Bu konuda önemli bir nokta da testlerin sağlıklı bireylerde de belli oranlarda pozitif sonuç vermesidir. Bu derlemede çocuk romatolojisi pratiğinde kullanılan testlerin endikasyonları, hastalık tanısı ve izlemindeki önemleri tartışılmıştır.

Keywords

• Çocuk romatolojisi, laboratuvar testleri, tanı, ayırıcı tanı

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