| Common
Medical Tests for Scleroderma |
| These are commonly used for
diagnosing or treating symptoms of Systemic
Scleroderma |
|
| Blood Tests |
| Antibody
Tests. ISN. |
| BUN
(Blood Urea Nitrogen) Test. University of Michigan
Health System (Also see Renal
Involvement) |
| Blood
(Serum) Creatinine Test. University of Michigan Health
System (Also see Renal
Involvement) |
| Laboratory
Tests by Mick Breske. |
| Lab Tests Online. A public resource for clinical lab tests. Search for a specific test and learn more about it. Lab Tests Online. |
| Liver
function tests. These tests help in the diagnosis of
any liver conditions, whether there are symptoms and signs
like jaundice, itchiness, enlarged liver as well as the monitoring
of the progress and severity of existing liver conditions. The
Star Online: Lifestyle. 11/01/06. |
| Serum
Sodium A test that measures the amount of sodium in the
blood, which can be used in the diagnosis of many conditions,
including pleural effusion. 1UpHealth. |
| VEGF:
Elevated Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Systemic Sclerosis. The
extent of skin sclerosis may contribute to the elevation
of serum VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and high
VEGF levels may serve as a surrogate indicator of capillary
damage in SSc. J Rheumatol NO. 7 JULY 2003;30:1529-33. |
| Soluble
Adhesion Molecules (VCAM-1, E-Selectin), Vascular Endothelial
Growth Factor (VEGF) and Endothelin-1 in Serum of Patients
with Systemic Sclerosis. Serum levels of sVCAM-1, sE-selectin,
VEGF and ET-1 may reflect the extent of internal organ involvement
in SSc patients and points to a pathogenic role of these
molecules in systemic manifestation of the disease. A.
Kuryliszyn-Moskal. FRI0286 EULAR 2004. (Also see: Causes
of Scleroderma) |
| Vein Viewer by Luminetx. The VeinViewer by Luminetx™ uses a combination of near-infrared light and patented technologies to image vascular structures, thus allowing physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals to clearly see accessible vasculature (or lack thereof) in real time, directly on the surface of the skin. Luminetx™ |
| Cardiac (Heart) |
| Cardiology
Tests and Procedures Dozens of cardiac tests clearly
explained, including Cardiac Catheterization, Coronary Artery
Bypass Graft, Surgery (CABG), Dobutamine Stress Test, Echocardiogram
(ECHO), Electrocardiogram (EKG), Electrophysiology Study
(EPS), Heart Valve Disorders, Holter Monitoring, Nuclear
Medicine Treadmill, Stress Tests (Cardiolite or Thallium),
Nuclear Medicine IV Persantine, Stress Test (IVP), Pacemakers,
Percutaneous Transluminal, Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA), Signal-Averaged
Electrocardiogram, (SAEKG), Stents, Stress Echocardiogram,
Transesophageal Echocardiogram, (TEE), and Treadmill Stress
Test. Torrance Memorial Medical Center. |
| CV-MRI:
Contrast-Enhanced Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance for Evaluating
Heart Involvement in Scleroderma. Heart involvement in
systemic scleroderma (SSc) is often clinically under-recognized
and there is a discrepancy between the reported prevalence
of symptomatic heart disease (20-25% of SSc patients (pts))
and the evidence of myocardial abnormalities (30-81% of cases)
seen at autopsy. CV-MRI is a novel non-invasive, easily repeatable
diagnostic tool capable to detect early morphologic and functional
cardiac abnormalities in SSc pts. G. Pomponio. FRI0099
EULAR 2003 (Also see: Cardiac
Involvement) |
| A
case of scleroderma with congestive heart failure of which
myocardial injury was detected by scintigraphy. Scintigraphy
may be useful to detect an early cardiac involvement in patients
with systemic sclerosis, and intense pharmacological treatment
might be started even before the patient develops symptoms. PubMed.
Nihon Rinsho Meneki Gakkai Kaishi. 2003 Jun;26(3):121-6.
(Also see: Cardiac
Involvement) |
| Capillaroscopy |
| Capillaroscopy is a dynamic process in mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). Nailfold capillaroscopy in MCTD is a dynamic process and analysis of each scleroderma-pattern parameter seems to be a good indicator of lung involvement and disease severity. Lupus, Vol. 16, No. 4, 254-258 (2007). (Also see: MCTD) |
| Capillaroscopic
patterns in rheumatic diseases. Microvascular damage is a typical
feature of Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) and more than 95% of the patients
present architectural disorganization, giant capillaries, haemorrhages,
loss of capillaries, avascular areas and neovascularization, as
main microvascular abnormalities. These sequential capillaroscopic
changes characterize the "scleroderma pattern" and reflect the
SSc microangiopathy. PubMed. Acta Reumatol Port. 2007 Jan-Mar;32(1):29-36.
(Also see: What is Raynaud's?) |
| Nailfold
capillaroscopy is useful for the diagnosis and follow-up
of autoimmune rheumatic diseases. A future tool for the analysis
of microvascular heart involvement? Architectural disorganization,
giant capillaries, haemorrhages, loss of capillaries, angiogenesis
and avascular areas characterize >95% of patients with
overt scleroderma (SSc).PubMed. Rheumatology (Oxford).
2006 Oct;45 Suppl 4:iv43-iv46. (Also see: Raynaud's) |
| Capillaroscopy
in the diagnosis of systemic sclerosis. A characteristic
microangiopathy, so-called "scleroderma pattern capillary
abnormalities", are present in the majority of patients
with systemic sclerosis and already appear in the early stage
of the disease. Thus capillarosopy is considered a practical
tool for diagnosing and monitoring patients with systemic
sclerosis. PubMed. Postepy Hig Med Dosw (Online). 2005
Jul 11;59:340-5. (Also see: Raynaud's
Diagnosis) |
| Gastrointestinal |
| Camera in a pill offers cheaper, easier window on your insides. This scanning device rather than an endoscope is cheap because it's so small it doesn't require anesthesia and sedation, UWNews.org. 01/24/08. (Also see: Barrett's Esophagus) |
| Esophageal
Dilation Esophageal dilatation is the technique used
to stretch or open the blocked portion of the esophagus. Jackson
Gastroenterology |
| Upper
Endoscopy, Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). MedicineNet
(Also see Gastrointestinal
Involvement) |
| By
combining different CT views, radiologists can better evaluate
the GI tract. Combined evaluation of transverse images--horizontal
slices of a standing body--and multiplanar coronal reformats--vertical
slices from head to foot--from CT scans give radiologists
more information about the GI tract to better diagnose problems. InnovationsReport.
05/05/06. |
| General |
| America's
Doctors at AOL (Keyword: amdoc) are real doctors with
real answers, 24 hours a day, for free! You can also get
answers to your medical questions in the Medical library.
(For America Online users only.) |
| Dubious
Diagnostic Tests Stephen Barrett, M.D. |
| Nail changes in connective tissue diseases: do nail changes provide clues for the diagnosis? Proximal nailfold is the most important site of affection in CTDs. These nail changes can be used in combination with highly sensitive diagnostic modalities to establish an accurate diagnosis. PubMed. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2007 Apr;21(4):497-503. (Also see: Raynaud's Diagnosis) |
| Scleroderma:
Health Services Utilization from Patients' Perspective. Less
than half of patients were diagnosed by a rheumatologist
and time to diagnosis from onset of symptoms has remained
unchanged over the last 3 decades. Despite their complex,
multisystemic disease, less than 50% of patients see sub-specialists
or had baseline screening tests for organ involvement of
their systemic sclerosis. J Rheumatol 2006 June;33:1123–7.
(Also see: Difficult
Diagnosis) |
| Imaging (CT, MRI) |
| Magnetic
Resonance Imaging of Hand in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc). The
visualization of pathology of hands was better with MRI and
detailed lesions which were difficult to interpretate with
clinical investigation or not visible with X-ray. M. N.
Starovoytova. SAT0240 EULAR 2006. (Also see: Muscle
and Joint Involvement) |
| Computerized
tomography—also called CT, CT scan and CAT scan—is an
X-ray technique that produces more detailed images of your
internal organs than do conventional X-ray exams. Mayo
Clinic. |
| Magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) is a technique that uses a magnetic
field and radio waves to create cross-sectional images of
your head and body. Your doctor uses these detailed, clear
images to identify and diagnose a wide range of conditions. Mayo
Clinic. |
| Medications |
| The
Drug Information Search Page The Detroit Medical Center |
| Medications For
others, see the symptoms pages. ISN. |
| Pulmonary (Lung) |
|
| Chest
X-Ray A chest x-ray is usually done for the evaluation
of lungs, heart and chest wall. Pneumonia, heart failure,
emphysema, lung cancer and other medical conditions can be
diagnosed or suspected on a chest x-ray. RadiologyInfo
(Also see: Pulmonary
Involvement) |
| Pulmonary
Function Tests (PFT) A test designed to measure how well
the lungs are working. MedicineNet. |
| Interpretation
of Pulmonary Function Test (PFTs). A PFT report
provides a wealth of measurements; however, in the final analysis,
only a few of these are necessary to make a pretty
good assessment of the patient's condition. James Allen,
MD. |
| Long-term
oxygen therapy for COPD (includes a good overview of basic
oxygen delivery devices/equipment) Postgraduate Medicine
(Also see Pulmonary
Involvement) |
| Thoracentesis Thoracentesis
is a procedure to remove fluid from the space between the lining
of the outside of the lungs (pleura) and the wall of the chest.
Normally, very little fluid is present in this space. An accumulation
of excess fluid between the layers of the pleura is called
a pleural effusion. Medline (Also see: Pleural
Effusion) |
| Raynaud's |
| Some doctors run a Cold Stimulation
Test which involves taping a heat sensor to your hand, then
submerging them in an ice-water bath to measure how long it
takes to return to normal temperature. Needless to say, this
test is not very popular with Raynaud's patients as it is both painful and unnecessary.
It is also hazardous if you have gangrene or open,
infected wounds on your hands. (Also see Raynaud's) |
| Assessment
of Hand Vascular Involvement by Magnetic Resonance Angiography
in Systemic Sclerosis. All the patients had at least
one abnormality on MRA; lesions are generally diffuse and
involve both arterial and venous systems. No difference was
established among the 2 cutaneous sub-types but lesions seem
to increase with disease duration; however, some lesions
may be found as early as the initial months after diagnosis. Yannick
Allanore. 1882/554 ACR 2006. (Also see: Raynaud's
Diagnosis) |
| Nailfold
Capillaroscopic Findings in Systemic Sclerosis and Raynaud
Phenomenon in a Rheumatology Clinical Setting. Nailfold
capillaroscopy performed in a routine clinical setting, without
any special measurement, is a simple and useful technique
for patients with Raynaud’s phenomenon and may help
to identify those patients with SSc diagnosis. Atusa Movasat.
1148/407 ACR 2006. (Also see: Raynaud's
Diagnosis) |
| Nailfold
Capillaroscopic Findings in Systemic Sclerosis Patients. Nail
fold capillaroscopy performed in a routine clinical setting,
without any special measurement, is an inexpensive and useful
technique in patients with clinical suspicion of SSc diagnosis,
and may identify patients with severe visceral complications.
Beatriz E. Joven. 1874/546 ACR 2006. (Also see: Raynaud's
Diagnosis) |
| Capillary
Density Determined by Microscopy Counts has a Diagnostic
Value in Patients with Suspected Systemic Sclerosis. Direct
microscopy counting is a rapid and simple method to determine
capillary density, which differentiates between patients
with systemic sclerosis and patients with primary Raynaud ́s
phenomenon, morphea and controls. M. Wildt. FRI0091 EULAR
2005. |
| Differentiation
of Primary and Secondary Raynaud's Disease by Carotid Arterial
Stiffness. Duplex determination of the carotid elasticity
or stiffness is different in primary Raynaud's phenomenon
compared with secondary Raynaud's associated with SSc. This
may be a useful non-invasive tool, in addition to autoantibody
markers and nail-fold capillaroscopy, to differentiate between
the two forms of Raynaud's phenomenon. PubMed. Eur
J Vasc Endovasc Surg 2003 Apr;25(4):336-41 (Also see Raynaud's) |
| Medical Records |
| Destination Health signs up for VitalKey portable medical records. VitalKey, created by a group of physicians in Virginia, places a patient's entire medical history on a USB keychain. MSN Money. 02/18/08. |
| VitalKey. The easiest way for you to protect yourself and your family from many of these errors is to ensure that any doctors who treat you have the accurate, current information they need – when they need it – about your medical history. VitalKey. |
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