Vol.19 No.5

Review Article

Screening tests for inflammatory activity: applications in rheumatology

Authors

Nilton Salles Rosa Neto1 , Jozélio Freire de Carvalho1 , Yehuda Shoenfeld2

  • Department of Rheumatology, University of S?o Paulo School of Medicine Hospital das Cl?nicas, S?o Paulo, Brazil
  • Center for Autoimmune Diseases and Department of Medicine B, Chaim Sheba Medical Center Tel-Hashomer, Incumbent of the Laura Schwartz-Kipp Chair for Autoimmune Diseases, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Hashomer, 52621, Israel
Received:

10 March 2009

Accepted:

7 July 2009

Published online:

21 August 2009

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Abstract

Inflammation is a hallmark of rheumatic diseases. The response to tissue injury comprises a series of changes which result in the shedding of pathogens, limitation of tissue damage and restoration of affected structures. These changes depend on increased or decreased serum concentrations of certain proteins known as inflammatory biomarkers. Laboratory analysis of these markers, together with clinical data and other complementary tests enable the assessment of disease activity and treatment response and can indicate the presence of infection. The screening tests currently available for identifying inflammatory activity include the determination of C-reactive protein level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate as well as protein electrophoresis. Here, we review the characteristics of a number of inflammatory biomarkers and their use in the assessment of inflammatory activity in rheumatic diseases.

Key words

Acute-phase proteins - C-reactive protein - Erythrocyte sedimentation rate - Inflammatory response - Rheumatic diseases