Why Did My Doctor Recommend Me To Undergo The Arthritis Profile
Your doctor might recommend the Arthritis profile if you have the following conditions: If you are experiencing any pain or inflammation of your bones and joints, your doctor might recommend you to undergo the Arthritis Profile for diagnosing if Arthritis is the cause of the pain and swelling. In case you are already diagnosed with Arthritis, your doctor might suggest the Arthritis profile for determining the specific type of Arthritis. Your health practitioner might want to evaluate if your body is responding to the treatment of Arthritis that you are undergoing already.
Why You Need A Blood Test For Rheumatoid Arthritis
ByAlan King Jr | Submitted On June 24, 2009
There is a wealth of information available out there about rheumatoid arthritis and you can start you search online or go through medical books. You can find all sorts of helpful information about how this ailment is treated and even find alternative treatments. You can even go as far as diagnosing yourself to check if you are showing the symptoms of RA. But it’s always safe to check for accuracy and validity which is why getting a blood test for rheumatoid arthritis is necessary.
Getting Tested
There are different kinds of blood tests for RA and the results can give you information that can be very useful for diagnostic evaluation and especially recommendations on how it can be treated. What the blood test does is that it finds the disease in your system and affirms if you do in fact have rheumatoid arthritis. Through these blood tests you can get an accurate diagnosis because having these tests are crucial indicators to find out about a patient’s condition.
Blood Test Types
The are four different types of blood tests performed for those who want to know the source of their symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Here are some helpful descriptions of each of them.
C-Reactive Protein is the second type of blood test to check for rheumatoid arthritis. This test is almost similar to ESR in that it can be a helpful diagnostic tool and detects irritation in your body.
The Importance of Blood Testing
Liver Enzyme Tests Sgot Sgpt Bilirubin Alkalin
These tests measure the amount of liver damage. Certain medications used in the treatment of arthritis can damage the liver. Aspirin, for example, has been known in rare instances to damage the liver especially in children or in people who have had previous liver damage. Other NSAIDs can cause liver inflammation . Methotrexate can cause liver damage especially in people who drink alcohol.
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Arthritis Comprehensive Blood Test Panel Women
The Arthritis Comprehensive Blood Test Panel for Women includes a C-Reactive Protein , Rheumatoid Arthritis Factor, Antinuclear Antibody, Sedimentation Rate, Uric Acid plus Wellness #2 Essential Panel that includes Complete Blood Count , Comprehensive Metabolic Panel , Lipid Panel with Total Cholesterol: HDL Ratio, Thyroid Panel plus TSH plus Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibodies, Creatine Kinase , Aldolase and Complement C3.
Also Known As:
Methodology: See Individual Tests
Preparation: Patient should be on a stable diet, ideally for two to three weeks prior to collection of blood, and should fast for 14 to 16 hours before collection of the specimen. Stop biotin consumption at least 72 hours prior to the collection. Avoid exercise prior to collection.
Test Results: 3-4 days. May take longer based on weather, holiday or lab delays.
Also Known As:
Methodology: See Individual Tests
Preparation: Patient should be on a stable diet, ideally for two to three weeks prior to collection of blood, and should fast for 14 to 16 hours before collection of the specimen. Stop biotin consumption at least 72 hours prior to the collection. Avoid exercise prior to collection.
Test Results: 3-4 days. May take longer based on weather, holiday or lab delays.
How Is Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosed
Once the blood tests rule out the presence of RF and anti-CPPs in the patient, it becomes more difficult to achieve a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis. However, it does happen. Just as having the presence of antibodies doesnt necessarily solidify a seropositive rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis, the absence of antibodies doesnt necessarily rule out a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis.
If a patient exhibits strong symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis , x-rays can be performed to further examine the symptoms. If the x-ray results indicate bone and cartilage erosion and damage, then a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis can be made.
Testing for levels of inflammation in a patients joints also helps to support a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis in seronegative patients. Here are some important criteria doctors follow when diagnosing seronegative rheumatoid arthritis:
- Negative antibody blood test results
- Symmetrical symptoms
- Polyarthritic symptoms, meaning multiple joints are affected
- Condition is inflammatory
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Difference Between Lupus And Rheumatoid Arthritis
These two diseases are almost similar in nature. But a closer look displays some distinct differences. Lupus attacks joints and any other part of the body, including the internal organs. It can manifest with skin rashes, fever, and pain. Rheumatoid arthritis primarily attacks the joints. Unlike lupus, it attacks corresponding joints in the body. While rheumatoid arthritis deforms the joints, lupus does not.
What If Your Bloodwork Is Normal
Often patients with PsA will have normal CRP and ESR levels. Similarly, while anti-CCP is typically an RA indicator, anti-CCP can be both negative or positive in PsA.
While bloodwork is certainly part of the diagnostic process, patient history and a physical examination are the most important factors to correctly diagnose PsA.4,9
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Other Tests For Psoriatic Arthritis
You will likely also be required to take the following tests for your diagnostic examination to be considered complete:
- Bone density scans can check for joint damage or bone loss and look for other conditions like osteoporosis , osteopenia , and demineralized bones .
- Imaging tests like X-rays and MRIs are used to examine bones and joints in detail to see the level of damage or inflammation.
Understanding Your Ra Blood Tests
Blood tests are frequently used to help in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis but also to assess any potential problems with the various drugs that are used to treat RA.
Blood tests are frequently used to help in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis but also to assess any potential problems with the various drugs that are used to treat RA. Routine blood tests that are frequently undertaken include a full blood count, urea and electrolytes and a variety of liver function tests. This article covers the blood tests used for diagnosis and general monitoring of RA.
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Other Diagnostic Methods Used To Confirm Rheumatoid Arthritis
Blood tests arent the only method that can be used to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis. You might also have a variety of other tests done to help confirm rheumatoid arthritis. These include:
- Physical assessment. A physical assessment can help determine how much your symptoms are impacting your daily life. You might be asked how well you can do daily tasks such as showering, eating, and dressing. A physical therapist might also assess your grip, walk, and balance.
- Joint scan. A joint scan looks for inflammation and damage in your joints. It can help confirm a rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis.
- Imaging tests. X-rays and MRIs create detailed pictures of your bones, muscles, and joints that can help diagnose rheumatoid arthritis.
What Is A Rheumatoid Factor Test
A rheumatoid factor test measures the amount of rheumatoid factor in your blood. Rheumatoid factors are proteins produced by the immune system. Normally, the immune system attacks disease-causing substances like viruses and bacteria. Rheumatoid factors attack healthy joints, glands, or other normal cells by mistake.
An RF test is most often used to help diagnose rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of autoimmune disorder that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness of the joints. Rheumatoid factors may also be a sign of other autoimmune disorders, such as juvenile arthritis, certain infections, and some types of cancer.
Other names: RF Blood Test
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The Role Of Rheumatoid Arthritis Testing
Rheumatoid arthritis testing is used to diagnose RA, evaluate the severity of a patients disease, monitor treatment, and detect potential side effects of treatment drugs:
- Diagnosis: Diagnostic testing helps determine the cause of a patients symptoms. If a doctor is concerned that a patients symptoms may be related to rheumatoid arthritis, testing can assist in diagnosing RA and ruling out other health conditions.
- Evaluating severity: The results of several laboratory tests can inform doctors about the severity of a patients RA, the amount of joint damage, and the prognosis or expected course of the disease.
- Treatment monitoring: Monitoring patients diagnosed with RA involves regular medical care, including doctors visits, laboratory testing, and imaging tests. Combining these strategies can assist doctors in tracking the progression of RA and understanding if treatment is effective.
- Detecting side effects: Testing may also be used to detect side effects caused by treatment drugs, as well as other health conditions that are more common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, including osteoporosis, heart disease, and diabetes.
Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis Prognosis
Determining a prognosis or outcome for any rheumatoid arthritis patient is difficult. Seronegative patients are no different. The disease itself may start out with mild symptoms and involve into more severe symptoms that make treatment more difficult.
Seronegative patients are often regarded as having a milder set of symptoms compared to seropositive patients. Generally, seronegative patients dont develop rheumatoid nodules, which are commonly displayed in seropositive patients. This is never a certainty, however, and each patients individual symptoms and disease progression will differ.
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Assessing The Immune System
While biologic DMARDs can be very effective at slowing joint damage progression and treating the symptoms of PsA, they also suppress the immune system, which can increase the likelihood of infection.
If you are prescribed a biologic to treat your PsA, in addition to liver enzyme testing, your doctor will likely monitor you for tuberculosis and take frequent complete blood count panels to assess your risk of infection.
Depending on which biologic you are prescribed, additional monitoring may be required.8
Natural Remedies For Lupus And Rheumatoid Arthritis
Some natural foods like omega-3 fatty acids, ginger, and turmeric are useful for lupus management. Intensive mind therapies through meditation are also helpful. For rheumatoid arthritis, changing your lifestyle is crucial. Apart from your diet, exercise, rest, and body meditation can also help. Omega fatty acids, Indian frankincense, turmeric, and cumin are vital ingredients in managing rheumatoid arthritis.
The clinical manifestations of lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are almost similar. Researchers are still grappling why the immune system turns to attack its tissues. Some recent blood tests for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are revealing positive strides in science. It is the hope of many that an effective remedy will come out soon.
Doctor, author and fitness enthusiast, Ahmed Zayed, MD, is a surgery resident with a passion for helping people live a happy healthy life. He is the author of numerous health-related books and contributor to several medicine, health and wellbeing websites.
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Adapted From A Presentation At The Early Ra Support And Education Program At Hospital For Special Surgery
is a chronic autoimmune disease that primarily affects the joints, but can affect other parts of the body. Diagnosing and managing RA involves clinical evaluation by a rheumatologist, as well as several different laboratory tests that require blood work. The results of these tests may be used in two ways:
- To confirm the presence of the RA.
- To determine how active the disease is.
The doctor and healthcare team use the results of these tests to guide treatment options for each patient. In turn, understanding how the results of blood tests used to monitor RA and its treatment can help patients better able to manage their RA.
Seronegative Ra: What Are The Symptoms Of Seronegative Ra
Seronegative rheumatoid arthritis is the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis without the presence of certain antibodies in the patients blood. It is one of two main types of rheumatoid arthritis diagnoses.
In most cases of rheumatoid arthritis, the patient tests positive for rheumatoid factor and/or anti-citrullinated peptides antibodies. These indicate that the patient is seropositive and that they possess the antibodies that cause an attack on joints and lead to inflammation. These patients tend to have a more severe disease course with more joint deformities, x-ray damage, disability and inflammation outside of the joints.
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Diagnosing Ra In Outlier Patients
Some cases of RA may be different or more difficult to diagnose then others, and certain routine tests and exams might not be as helpful. These include patients with a very recent onset of disease, people whose RA is inactive, and those with seronegative RA.
In these situations, making an RA diagnosis may take more time, or more weight may be given to certain factors, but RA can still be accurately established.
In people with inactive RA, for example, a rheumatologist may rely less on CRP and ESR tests and more on RF and anti-CCP tests, as well as evidence of characteristic joint erosions on imaging, if the disease has been present for long enough to develop erosions.
Types Of Rheumatoid Arthritis Tests
In order to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis, a doctor begins by discussing a patients symptoms, understanding their medical history, and conducting a physical examination.
Laboratory tests are performed to help diagnose rheumatoid arthritis, to distinguish it from other forms of arthritis and conditions with similar symptoms, and to evaluate the severity of the disease. Laboratory tests used to diagnose and evaluate rheumatoid arthritis, as well as to rule out other conditions, include:
| TESTS RELATED TO DIAGNOSING RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS | |
|---|---|
| Test Name | |
| Blood sample | How quickly red blood cells settle in a test tube, which can indicate inflammation in the body |
| Synovial fluid sample | Physical, chemical, and microscopic aspects of synovial fluid |
Laboratory tests used to monitor rheumatoid arthritis and detect treatment side effects include regular testing of c-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, as well as hemoglobin, albumin, and platelet count. Additional tests used to detect side effects of treatment depend on the type of treatment or medication a patient is receiving.
Genetic testing may be used in planning treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. In order to understand if a patients body is able to metabolize a type of medication called thiopurine prodrugs, doctors may test patients for variants in the thiopurine methyltransferase and nudix hydrolase 15 genes. Testing for drug metabolism is important to determine a safe dosage of these medications.
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Inflammation And Other Forms Of Arthritis
Some infections can lead to joint destruction and this occurs much quicker than with other forms of arthritis. It is crucial to rule out an infection when arthritis affects a single joint.
Gout: A common and painful condition that affects the joints and tendons. Small crystals of uric acid form in and around the joint which causes inflammation, pain and swelling. An attack of gout usually comes on very quickly, often overnight. The joint becomes red, swollen and painful. It often affects one joint at a time, such as the big toe.
Inflammation: A localised physical condition in which part of the body becomes reddened, swollen, hot, and often painful. Inflammation is a common symptom of arthritis, and is the cause and the result of all forms of arthritis.
This info sheet was reviewed and updated by Prof. Susanna Proudman, Medical Director, Arthritis Australia and Dr Stephen Adelstein, Pathology Awareness Australia ambassador.
Common Blood Diagnostic Tests For Rheumatoid Arthritis
Your physician will leverage numerous blood tests â â usually combined with imaging tests â â to help diagnose you with RA. Most of these blood tests are done with a simple blood test and results are available within a few days.
The tests to diagnose RA are grouped into the following general categories:
- Autoantibody tests which can measure if your immune system is making specific factors that can be seen with RA
- Inflammation tests that can help with the diagnosis of RA, as well as in the monitoring of success of therapy
- Additional tests to evaluate your general health
Anyone with RA normally has high levels of C-reactive protein or elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate , both of which are signs of inflammatory activity in the body.
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Human Leukocyte Antigen Tissue Typing
This test checks for a genetic marker called human leukocyte antigen .
Some studies suggest that around 60% of RA cases may be inherited. If a person has specific antigens, it could mean that they have a higher likelihood of developing RA. However, other factors, such as tobacco use, can also trigger the condition.
HLA markers in the blood can help indicate the likelihood of developing an immune-related condition such as RA. These markers may also be a sign of another condition, such as ankylosing spondylitis or reactive arthritis.
Tests For General Inflammation In Ra
Autoantibody tests including RF and anti-CCP are the mainstay of diagnosis in RA. However, other tests that measure general inflammation in the body are also used in the following ways in RA:
- Help in diagnosis
- Monitoring response to therapy
There are two tests that are most commonly used to diagnose RA: the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and the C-reactive protein .
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Who Should Get Testing
Patients who experience inflammation, pain, or loss of mobility in joints should discuss testing for rheumatoid arthritis with their doctor, especially if symptoms occur in multiple joints or in matching joints on both sides of the body, such as both wrists. Other symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:
- Stiffness in the morning for 30 minutes or longer
- Fatigue
- Dry eyes and mouth
- Firm lumps beneath the skin
These symptoms are often due to something other than RA when they last less than six weeks. The longer a patient experiences symptoms, the more likely the symptoms are to be due to RA.
Diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis in its early stages can be challenging, as patients may experience few symptoms, but early diagnosis is important because early treatment may prevent joints from worsening or at least slow the process. When symptoms are present, they often differ from person to person and mimic the symptoms of other diseases. Testing is an important part of the process of determining whether symptoms are due to RA or another condition.
After receiving a diagnosis of RA, its important for patients to continue rheumatoid arthritis testing. Testing can assist doctors in assessing the severity of RA, as well as monitoring the efficacy of treatment, tracking disease progression, and detecting potentially serious side effects of treatment drugs.