Which lab markers are commonly included in the scleritis evaluation?

Which lab markers are commonly included in the scleritis evaluation?

• A. ESR and CRP
• B. Serum glucose only
• C. Lipid panel
• D. Liver enzymes

Answer: (A)

Inflammation markers used to gauge ocular inflammatory activity and systemic involvement. In scleritis, assessing how active the inflammation is helps guide treatment and monitor response. ESR measures a general level of inflammation in the body, while CRP is an acute-phase protein that rises quickly with inflammation and tends to track changes in activity more promptly. Together, they provide useful, non-specific evidence of inflammatory burden and help identify associated systemic diseases that can accompany scleritis. The other tests listed don’t reflect inflammatory activity relevant to scleral disease—glucose is a metabolic measure, lipid panels assess cardiovascular risk, and liver enzymes indicate liver injury rather than ocular inflammation.

Inflammation markers used to gauge ocular inflammatory activity and systemic involvement. In scleritis, assessing how active the inflammation is helps guide treatment and monitor response. ESR measures a general level of inflammation in the body, while CRP is an acute-phase protein that rises quickly with inflammation and tends to track changes in activity more promptly. Together, they provide useful, non-specific evidence of inflammatory burden and help identify associated systemic diseases that can accompany scleritis.

The other tests listed don’t reflect inflammatory activity relevant to scleral disease—glucose is a metabolic measure, lipid panels assess cardiovascular risk, and liver enzymes indicate liver injury rather than ocular inflammation.