A 17-year-old male college freshman presents with fatigue, back pain, and stiffness. The pain has been present for the past several months, but it appears to be worsening. The back symptoms are worse at night and first thing in the morning; they improve somewhat during the day. He reports the pain improves with exercise. He is having difficulty staying productive at school because he is always tired.
Question Highlights
What laboratory finding is most probable?
1 Decreased c-reactive protein
2 Increased b-natriuretic protein
3 Increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate
4 Decreased alkaline phosphatase
5 Increased uric acid level