Rheumatologic patient monitoring panel

• Learn how to prepare for a blood sample HERE.
• As the panel also includes a thyroid test, please read the instructions for the test: what to consider before giving a blood sample for thyroid tests.
• Watch the video on how to prepare for giving the sample:

• Check out the instructions for preparing for urine sample collection HERE.

• The results will be displayed in minu.synlab.ee and terviseportaal.ee.
• To interpret the results, you may need to consult a healthcare professional.
• If you have any questions, we recommend that you book a consultation with our lab doctor. You can book an appointment HERE.

The rheumatologic patient monitoring panel combines all the important tests a person with a rheumatic diagnosis should take regularly to assess the effect of treatment and their general health status.

Rheumatologic diseases are chronic diseases caused by abnormalities of the immune system, i.e. autoimmune diseases. Their course is characterised by waves, with exacerbations and remissions. Rheumatologic disease cannot be completely cured, but with treatment, the course of the disease can be significantly affected and organs (such as joints) can be protected from severe damage.

There are more than one hundred rheumatologic diseases. In this diversity, inflammatory rheumatologic diseases (joint inflammations, connective tissue inflammations, blood vessel inflammations) stand out, in the development of which autoimmune inflammation plays a central role and in the treatment of which various anti-inflammatory and immune-stimulating medications are used. The clinical picture of inflammatory rheumatologic diseases can be very varied and they can involve many organs and organ groups, causing significant damage. Among those suffering from these diseases is a relatively high proportion of children, young people and middle-aged people.

A large number of rheumatologic diseases are related to infections (rheumatic fever, reactive arthritis, etc.) and genetic predisposition. Some rheumatologic diseases are related to ageing (osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, joint wear and tear, etc.). About one-fifth of the entire population suffers from some form of rheumatic disease.

Major groups of inflammatory rheumatic diseases include:

• types of arthritis (joint inflammation, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis);
• spondylarthrosis (inflammations of the spine, including ankylosing spondylitis);
• systemic connective tissue diseases (lupus, dermatomyositis, scleroderma, etc.);
• vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels);

Groups of non-inflammatory rheumatologic diseases include:

• overload syndromes;
• diseases of bone metabolism (including osteoporosis);
• congenital disorders of joints and connective tissue;
• osteoarthrosis (joint wear and tear);
• acquired deformations of the joints.

The panel has been developed in cooperation with the Estonian Rheumatism Association and the Estonian Society of Rheumatology.

Once a year, we recommend checking the effect of treatment on cardiovascular health using the Cholesterol panel. We recommend repeating the tests of the rheumatologic patient monitoring panel every one to six months according to the activity of the disease and the recommendation of the attending physician.

Laboratory tests provide an overview of the body's current state, and normal results do not guarantee the absence of all health issues. If symptoms persist, we recommend consulting your general practitioner or booking a consultation with a laboratory doctor.

1. Hemogram with 5-part leukogram, i.e., white blood cell count
2. C-reactive protein (high-sensitivity)
3. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
4. Creatinine
5. Alanine aminotransferase 
6. Glucose
7. Urine strip test