Rheumatoid Arthritis

How to test for Rheumatoid Arthritis ?

There are various tests such as blood tests, Erthrocyte Sedimentation rate test, and other tests, available to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis. Blood tests will be recommended by the doctor to determine rheumatoid arthritis.

erythrocyte sedimentation rate test in laboratory
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate test in laboratory

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate test

This test is very beneficial to measure how fast erythrocytes fall to the bottom of a glass tube, which is filled with the blood. The higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate may increase the inflammation in the joints. It can be high in various conditions ranging from infection to tumors to inflammation in people with rheumatoid arthritis. Actually, an erythrocyte sedimentation rate test is used to find how serious the health disease is.

Blood tests

There is various blood tests available, use to determine the rheumatoid arthritis and find complications of this health conditions.

Rheumatoid factor: Antibodies, which collect in the synovium of the joint, are called by rheumatoid factor. About 80% of the cases of this disease are determined by blood tests. People who have other health conditions are also determined by blood tests. However, patients may experience arthritic pain on the both sides of the body; it is show of type of rheumatoid arthritis. In some cases, X-rays of the bones will be suggested by the doctor to determine the chance for progressive joint damage.

Tests for Anemia: Bloods test will be suggested by the health care providers to find the quantity of iron and red blood cells in blood. This is very good for Anemia, which is very common complication of the disease.

C – reactive protein: Active inflammation in the joints is also indicated by high levels of C – reactive protein (CRP).

Imaging techniques

Ultrasound

A special ultrasound technique is also known as power Doppler ultrasonography (PDUS) or quantitative ultrasound (QUS). This is very helpful to diagnose the rheumatoid arthritis. It is very effective for monitoring inflammatory activity.

X-rays

X-rays is not good for determine the disease, because this techniques can not show the clear images of soft tissue. It may use to detect bone loss in rheumatoid arthritis. This technique is also called by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry.



Magnetic Resonance Imaging

When X-rays are not used to detect the disease, then Magnetic Resonance Imaging uses to find rheumatoid arthritis.

Special equipment is designed for magnetic resonance imaging which known as extremity MRI. It can be determined bone erosions in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

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