Authors
Fereydoun Davatchi
Publication date
2010
Journal
Guide to Pain Management in Low-Resource Settings
Pages
221
Description
Rheumatology is a subspecialty of internal medicine dealing with bone and joint diseases (connective tissue and related tissue disorders of bone, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, tendon sheets, bursae, muscles, etc.). Although modern rheumatology is based on advanced molecular biology, immunology, and immunogenetics, the daily practice and routine diagnosis is mainly clinical and based on symptoms and signs. In the majority of cases, laboratory tests and imaging have a confirmatory role, instead of being mandatory. Simple tests, such as complete blood count (CBC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF), uric acid, and urinalysis, are sufficient in many cases. Sophisticated investigations are rarely mandatory in routine practice. The same is true regarding elaborate imaging technics.
Total citations
Scholar articles
F Davatchi - Guide to Pain Management in Low-Resource Settings, 2010