Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Rheumatoid arthritis laboratory tests
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Laboratory tests used to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis include complete blood count with differentials, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP, renal function test, LFTs, and antibodies such as rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP, and anti MCV.
Laboratory Findings
Laboratory Findings
Following tests are used to make the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis:[1][2]
- Complete blood count with differentials
- Platelet count
- Acute phase reactant are used to measure disease progression:[3]
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
- C-reactive protein: CRP gives an idea about the radiological progression and mean CRP correlates with articular index
- Renal function test – usually dearranged in complication of RA
- Liver function test – abnormal in complication of RA
- Antibodies
- Rheumatoid factor:
- Antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP antibodies):[6][7]
- It has specificity of about 81-100%, with sensitivity of 39–94%
- Antibodies to citrullinated vimentin and mutated citrullinated vimentin (MCV):
- It has specificity of about 90.3–98%, with sensitivity of 69.5–82%
References
References
- ↑ Bayliss CE, Dawkins RL, Cullity G, Davis RE, Houliston JB (October 1975). “Laboratory diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Prospective study of 85 patients”. Ann. Rheum. Dis. 34 (5): 395–402. PMC 1006439. PMID 769705.
- ↑ Wasserman AM (December 2011). “Diagnosis and management of rheumatoid arthritis”. Am Fam Physician. 84 (11): 1245–52. PMID 22150658.
- ↑ van Leeuwen MA, van Rijswijk MH, van der Heijde DM, Te Meerman GJ, van Riel PL, Houtman PM, van De Putte LB, Limburg PC (June 1993). “The acute-phase response in relation to radiographic progression in early rheumatoid arthritis: a prospective study during the first three years of the disease”. Br. J. Rheumatol. 32 Suppl 3: 9–13. PMID 8508266.
- ↑ Heidari B (2011). “Rheumatoid Arthritis: Early diagnosis and treatment outcomes”. Caspian J Intern Med. 2 (1): 161–70. PMC 3766928. PMID 24024009.
- ↑ Dörner T, Egerer K, Feist E, Burmester GR (May 2004). “Rheumatoid factor revisited”. Curr Opin Rheumatol. 16 (3): 246–53. PMID 15103252.
- ↑ van Venrooij WJ, Hazes JM, Visser H (November 2002). “Anticitrullinated protein/peptide antibody and its role in the diagnosis and prognosis of early rheumatoid arthritis”. Neth J Med. 60 (10): 383–8. PMID 12607587.
- ↑ Schellekens GA, Visser H, de Jong BA, van den Hoogen FH, Hazes JM, Breedveld FC, van Venrooij WJ (January 2000). “The diagnostic properties of rheumatoid arthritis antibodies recognizing a cyclic citrullinated peptide”. Arthritis Rheum. 43 (1): 155–63. doi:10.1002/1529-0131(200001)43:1<155::AID-ANR20>3.0.CO;2-3. PMID 10643712.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Manpreet Kaur, MD [2]