EVOLUTION OF LABORATORY DIAGNOSTICS OF INFLAMMATION IN RHEUMATOLOGY: FROM C-REACTIVE PROTEIN TO MULTIMARKER PANELS

Rekalov D.G.¹, Danyuk I.O.²

• ¹SI “NSC “Institute of Cardiology, Clinical and Regenerative Medicine named after Academician M.D. Strazhesko of NAMS of Ukraine”, Kyiv
• ²Medical Center “Vesta”, Irpin

Summary. The article examines the evolution of approaches to assessing inflammation in rheumatology — from traditional laboratory indicators to modern multimarker panels. The significance of both conventional markers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein) and novel biomarkers of inflammation and tissue damage (calprotectin, 14-3-3η protein, CXCL13, matrix metalloproteinase-3, pentraxin-3, lipocalin-2) is discussed. Special attention is given to promising methods in rheumatology that enable a comprehensive evaluation of specific immune axis activation — including cytokine profiling, interferon signature analysis, immunomarker panels, and proteins associated with tissue injury and fibrosis.