Monitoring complete blood counts and haemoglobin levels in osteoarthritis patients: results from a European survey investigating primary care physician behaviours and understanding.

CONCLUSION: Physician practice in relation to carrying out blood tests in OA patients and their understanding of the potential significance of specific results obtained, namely haemoglobin values, varies substantially across the countries surveyed. As NSAIDs form a pivotal part in the chronic treatment of osteoarthritis and are well recognised agents that can precipitate blood loss, guidelines may be needed to advise physicians as to when monitoring a patient's haemoglobin levels may be appropriate. PMID: 25598854 [PubMed]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25598854?dopt=Abstract

Source: Open Rheumatology Journal - January 20, 2015 Category: Rheumatology Tags: Open Rheumatol J Source Type: research