Diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis is based on physical findings on examination of the patient by the physician, the pattern of symptoms presented, laboratory findings and X-ray findings. This may take multiple visits to the doctor or to a Rheumatologist who specializes in RA before diagnosis can be definitively made.
Physical Examination for Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis
The first step in diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis is a physical examination and consultation with your physician. Your doctor will review your medical history and speak with you about your symptoms. He will examine the joints for deformity or inflammation, your skin will be examined for signs of nodules and the body checked for other signs of inflammation.
The doctor will look for symmetry of joint inflammation; usually in RA the joints on each side of the body are affected. Typically if the small joints of the wrists, hands, feet and knees on one side of the body are affected, they are affected on the other side of the body as well. When there are only a few joints affected or it is not symmetrical, diagnosis is difficult with physical examination and the doctor will then order laboratory or radiological testing to confirm the diagnosis.
Laboratory Testing for Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis
Your doctor may order blood tests to aid in the diagnosis of RA.
Rheumatoid Factor – In 80% of patients with RA abnormal antibodies called the rheumatoid factor are present.
Citrulline antibody – also known as anticitrulline, anticyclic citrullinated peptide and anti-CCP is present in most people with RA. If you the rheumatoid factor is not present in your body, your doctor will test for the Citrulline antibody.
Antinuclear antibody – (ANA) – this antibody is frequently found in people with RA.
Sedimentation rate – (Sedrate) – this test measures how fast red blood cells sink to the bottom of a test tube. It is usually faster in people with RA.
C – reactive protein – Measures the degree of inflammation in the body.
Some of these tests such as the rheumatoid factor, C-reactive protein, Sedrate and ANA can be abnormal in the presence of other systemic autoimmune conditions or inflammatory diseases and therefore these tests alone cannot definitively give a diagnosis of RA.
Radiological Testing for Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis
X-rays of the joints in the early stages of RA may be normal or may show only swelling of the soft tissues. As the condition progresses bony erosions may be visualized. X-rays are helpful in monitoring the disease progression. MRI is used to identify bone damage and Bone scans which are radioactive nuclear procedures can demonstrate inflammation of the joints.
Diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis is based on physical findings on examination of the patient by the physician, the pattern of symptoms presented, laboratory findings and X-ray findings. This may take multiple visits to the doctor or to a Rheumatologist who specializes in RA before diagnosis can be definitively made.
Physical Examination for Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis
The first step in diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis is a physical examination and consultation with your physician. Your doctor will review your medical history and speak with you about your symptoms. He will examine the joints for deformity or inflammation, your skin will be examined for signs of nodules and the body checked for other signs of inflammation.
The doctor will look for symmetry of joint inflammation; usually in RA the joints on each side of the body are affected. Typically if the small joints of the wrists, hands, feet and knees on one side of the body are affected, they are affected on the other side of the body as well. When there are only a few joints affected or it is not symmetrical, diagnosis is difficult with physical examination and the doctor will then order laboratory or radiological testing to confirm the diagnosis.
Laboratory Testing for Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis
Your doctor may order blood tests to aid in the diagnosis of RA.
Some of these tests such as the rheumatoid factor, C-reactive protein, Sedrate and ANA can be abnormal in the presence of other systemic autoimmune conditions or inflammatory diseases and therefore these tests alone cannot definitively give a diagnosis of RA.
Radiological Testing for Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis
X-rays of the joints in the early stages of RA may be normal or may show only swelling of the soft tissues. As the condition progresses bony erosions may be visualized. X-rays are helpful in monitoring the disease progression. MRI is used to identify bone damage and Bone scans which are radioactive nuclear procedures can demonstrate inflammation of the joints.