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Laboratory Testing: Neurologic Manifestations with Rheumatic Diseases—Associated Findings and Recommended Laboratory Evaluation

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Neurorheumatology

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Abstract

In this chapter, laboratory tests relevant to major disorders in rheumatology that can affect the nervous system are discussed. While laboratory tests can be helpful in evaluating patients with suspected or established rheumatic disease, they are often not diagnostic due to imperfect sensitivity and specificity. Therefore, it is particularly important to recognize that the pretest probability of disease is the driving factor in determining the utility of any laboratory value. Laboratory testing may make a particular diagnosis more or less likely, but ultimately, consideration of the clinical context is essential for disease diagnosis. In many cases, laboratory testing is more helpful to rule out disease than to rule in disease.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

    Kristie M. Smith & Robert H. Shmerling

  2. Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Kristie M. Smith & Robert H. Shmerling

Authors
  1. Kristie M. Smith
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  2. Robert H. Shmerling
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Correspondence to Robert H. Shmerling .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neuroimmunology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA

    Tracey A. Cho

  2. Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Shamik Bhattacharyya

  3. Division of Rheumatology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Simon Helfgott

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Smith, K.M., Shmerling, R.H. (2019). Laboratory Testing: Neurologic Manifestations with Rheumatic Diseases—Associated Findings and Recommended Laboratory Evaluation. In: Cho, T., Bhattacharyya, S., Helfgott, S. (eds) Neurorheumatology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16928-2_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16928-2_3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-16927-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-16928-2

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