Diagnosing RA in its early stages is the best way to treat the disease and prevent it from worsening. Severe RA can change the shape and position of joints, leading to misalignment, functional limitations, and changes in physical abilities. However, they’re not widely used to diagnose the disease. MRIs can detect inflammation due to RA far earlier than an X-ray. It’s what the immune system attacks in RA. The synovium is the membrane lining the joints. These images are used to look for inflammation of the synovium.
Unlike X-rays, MRIs can create images of soft tissues. MRIs use a powerful magnetic field to take a picture of the inside of the body.
Rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis criteria series#
A series of X-rays over a period of months or years can help monitor RA progression. Early soft tissue inflammation doesn’t show up on the scans. However, X-rays can only detect more advanced RA. This evaluation can also help determine the best method of treatment. Your doctor will look at these images to assess the level of damage to the cartilage, tendons, and bones. X-rays can be used to take images of joints affected by RA. In addition to blood tests for RA, other tests can also detect damage caused by the disease. That’s why this test is sometimes used to measure the effectiveness of RA medications in addition to diagnosing RA. High levels of CRP can indicate inflammation in the joints.Ĭ-reactive protein levels change more quickly than sed rates. CRP is produced in the liver when there’s severe inflammation or infection in the body. C-reactive protein test (CRP)ĬRP is another test used to look for inflammation. The ESR is higher when there are more inflammatory components in blood that slow red blood cells from falling to the bottom of the test tube. There’s typically a direct correlation between the level of the sed rate and the degree of inflammation. The lab will look at the sed rate, which measures how quickly your red blood cells clump and sink to the bottom of the test tube. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (sed rate)Īlso called ESR, the sed rate test checks for inflammation. If you have RA, your results may show a low hematocrit level. The CBC also measures the amount of hemoglobin, a protein in your blood that carries oxygen, and hematocrit, the volume of red blood cells in your blood. A low number can indicate anemia and is commonly found in people with RA.Ī high number of white blood cells, which fight infection, may point to an immune system disorder or inflammation. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. This test counts the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets in your blood. Many people have positive, low-level ANA tests without clinical evidence of RA. However, a positive test doesn’t mean you have RA. Since RA is an autoimmune disease, many people with RA have positive ANA tests. A high level of this antibody could mean that your immune system is attacking itself. Antinuclear antibody test (ANA)ĪNA tests are a general indicator of autoimmune disease.Ī positive ANA test means that your body is producing antibodies that are attacking normal cells instead of foreign organisms. To confirm RA, your doctor will look at this test result in combination with other tests and clinical findings. However, people with RA may test negative for anti-CCP. People without RA almost never test positive for anti-CCP.
A positive test also indicates that RA is likely to progress more rapidly.
If you test positive for anti-CCP antibodies, there’s a good chance you have RA. Anticitrullinated protein antibody test (anti-CCP)Īn anti-CCP test, also known as ACPA, tests for an antibody associated with RA.Ī research review from 2015 found that this test may identify people who are more likely to develop severe and irreversible damage due to RA. People with other conditions, such as hepatitis C and Sjögren’s, may test positive for RF. RF isn’t specific to RA, so people with RA may test negative for RF. RF tests can’t be used to diagnose RA alone. It can attack the healthy tissue in your body. RF is a protein that your body’s immune system produces. Many people with RA have high levels of an antibody called rheumatoid factor (RF). There’s no single test to confirm RA, so your doctor may order multiple tests. The sample is then sent to a lab for testing. Other tests are used to measure the presence and degree of inflammation.įor blood tests, your doctor will draw a small sample from a vein. Several blood tests can detect immune system changes or antibodies that may attack the joints and other organs.
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