This invention relates to field of screening and diagnosing adverse local tissue reaction (ALTR) in a subject who has received a joint replacement by measuring the level of a nucleic acid or protein biomarker that are elevated in patients suffering from ALTR, even those with no symptoms. The early diagnosis of the ALTR can lead to its treatment and thus, the prevention of implant failure caused by the ALTR. The elevated proteins and genes are also the basis for treatment for ALTR and provide targets for drug development and basic research.
