Imaging Tests Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound may help diagnose rheumatoid arthritis in the early stages of the disease. In addition, these imaging tests can help evaluate the amount of damage in the joints and the severity of the disease.
No blood test can definitively prove or rule out a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, but several tests can show indications of the condition. Some of the main blood tests used include: erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) – which can help assess levels of inflammation in the body.
The main clinically useful biologic markers in patients with RA include rheumatoid factors (RF), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP).
Anti-CCP antibody test (ACCP or CCP). This test is for a type of autoantibody called cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies, which can be found in the blood of 60% to 80% of people with rheumatoid arthritis.
RF is the first well-known RA immunologic marker. It is observed in 80-85% of patients with RA. Elevated serum level of RF has been associated with increased disease activity, radiographic progression, and the presence of extraarticular manifestations. The sensitivity of RF is 50-90%, and specificity is 50-95%.
RA is symmetrical, where a patient feels symptoms in the same spot on both sides of the body, often in the joints in the feet and hands. Osteoarthritis, in contrast, begins in an isolated joint, often in the knee, fingers, hands, spine and hips. While both sides may hurt, one side is more painful.
At-home rheumatoid factor (RF) testing: At-home rheumatoid factor testing detects levels of rheumatoid factor in the blood. Testing kits allow patients to obtain a sample of blood using a finger stick. Once a sample of blood is collected in a test vial, it's sent to a laboratory for analysis.
If your GP thinks you have rheumatoid arthritis, they will refer you to a specialist (rheumatologist). Your GP may arrange blood tests to help confirm the diagnosis after conducting a physical examination and consulting your medical history, or they may refer you at the same time as requesting tests.
RA usually starts to develop between the ages of 30 and 60. But anyone can develop rheumatoid arthritis. In children and young adults — usually between the ages of 16 and 40 — it's called young-onset rheumatoid arthritis (YORA).
A person with RA may feel intense pain in their joints during flares. This can feel like sustained pressure, a burning sensation, or a sharp pain. However, people with RA may also experience periods of remission when they feel few to no symptoms. In addition to causing joint pain, RA can affect the whole body.
The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis often develop gradually over several weeks, but some cases can progress quickly over a number of days. The symptoms vary from person to person. They may come and go, or change over time. You may experience flares when your condition deteriorates and your symptoms become worse.
Physical Examination. Symmetrical joint swelling is characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis that has been persistent for a period of time. However when only a few joints are affected at the beginning of disease, symmetry may not be seen and should not preclude the diagnosis of RA.
Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system attacks the lining surrounding a joint,called the synovium. However, in some people RA can present less typically, which can make getting the right diagnosis tricky.
Rheumatoid arthritis can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages because the early signs and symptoms mimic those of many other diseases. There is no one blood test or physical finding to confirm the diagnosis. During the physical exam, your doctor will check your joints for swelling, redness and warmth.
Multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis share similar symptoms, so one condition can be mistaken for the other. However, this is rare because diagnostic testing methods vary between two conditions.
Use imaging tests like X-rays.
These can often tell what kind of arthritis you have. X-rays are used to diagnose osteoarthritis, often showing a loss of cartilage, bone spurs, and in severe cases, bone rubbing against bone.
Doctors usually diagnose arthritis using the patient's medical history, physical examination, X-rays, and blood tests. It is possible to have more than one form of arthritis at the same time. There are many forms of arthritis, and diagnosing the specific type you have can help your doctor determine the best treatment.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis. It tends to involve more than one of the small joints of the hands and feet. In particular, the lining of the joint or tendons (the synovium) is inflamed, causing warmth, pain, and stiffness.
Nonetheless, RA is not the only condition which includes joint inflammation, fever, and fatigue as its symptoms. In fact, these are also common in several other conditions like Fibromyalgia, Osteoarthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Gout, Lupus, and infectious arthritis.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound may help diagnose rheumatoid arthritis in the early stages of the disease. In addition, these imaging tests can help evaluate the amount of damage in the joints and the severity of the disease.
The Role of Blood Tests in RA Diagnosis
No single blood test can reliably diagnose RA. Some healthy people test positive for anti-CCPs, while others who have RA have negative test results.