Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, progressive bone disorder affecting millions, especially people over 60 years. In rheumatoid arthritis, humoral and cell-mediated immunity are misregulated, which causes the development of anti-rheumatoid factor antibodies that attack the body's joints leading to complete tissue damage. It is also called inflammatory arthritis. Commonly, RA affects the lining of joints, resulting in severe swelling or inflammation that damages synovial joints, causes bone erosion, and alters the structural makeup of joints. Patients with chronic arthritis find it difficult to perform daily activities like walking, sitting, standing, running, etc. Rheumatoid arthritis's precise causes, however, remain a mystery that needs to be investigated. However, the exact causes of rheumatoid arthritis are still poorly understood.
How is rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed?
It is always challenging to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis. Since joint inflammation and stiffness can be due to other conditions, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms alone cannot determine the presence of disease. Now, let us see various tests for an accurate rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis.
Physical examination:
Your joints will be examined physically by your doctor, who will look for any swelling and gauge how smoothly they move. It is essential to discuss your symptoms in detail with the doctor. All symptoms, not just those you consider significant, should be discussed with the doctor or rheumatologist to ensure a proper diagnosis.
Blood test:
Your doctor can prescribe blood tests to assess the condition and disease progression. It helps in detecting the blood biomarker levels that indicate arthritis. It includes:
Rheumatoid factor (RF) concentrations are determined through a blood test. It is considered a confirmatory test for rheumatoid arthritis. When the immune system targets healthy tissue, it creates a protein called rheumatoid factor.
Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (Anti-CCP) or rheumatoid autoantibodies are measured in the blood to confirm the illness. However, Anti-CCP is not present in all cases of rheumatoid arthritis, but those who test positive for it are far more likely to acquire the disease. People who test positive for both anti-CCP and rheumatoid factor may be more likely to have severe rheumatoid arthritis necessitating more intensive care.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), which can be used to measure the body's state of inflammation
C-reactive protein (CRP) is a different test that can be used to gauge the degree of inflammation and its severity level.
Complete blood count - this examination can be done to help rule out additional potential causes of your symptoms and to assess your general health. Also, it helps in the diagnosis of anemia. Although having anaemia does not necessarily mean you have rheumatoid arthritis, it is frequent among persons with rheumatoid arthritis.
3. Joint scans
X-rays and MRI of the affected joint are performed to assess the extent of inflammation and damage. It also helps to track the development of your condition over time and to distinguish between different types of arthritis.
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