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Rheumatoid Arthritis Initial Diagnosis
There is no single test that can definitively diagnose RA. As with other illnesses, diagnosis of RA typically begins with your doctor getting your medical history and conducting a physical exam. You doctor will begin by asking questions about the symptoms you’re experiencing, including when and how they occur and how they’ve changed over time (if they have). One specific symptom they will ask about is morning joint stiffness that lasts for at least 30 minutes and occurs in the peripheral joints rather than the lower back — a common RA symptom. The other main symptom is swelling of the joints that lasts for at least six weeks, particularly if the swelling occurs on the same joints on both sides of the body. Swelling that occurs for less than six weeks could be a sign of multiple different things; an example is acute viral polyarthritis, an inflammation of the joints caused by a virus.
In recent years, researchers have identified a number of different ACPAs, detected through the anti-CCP tests. A study published in June 2018 in the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases found that no single ACPA is responsible for RA joint damage and inflammation. Though RF and anti-CCP antibody tests are highly informative and can help with diagnoses, they’re not enough to diagnose RA alone.
Anemia, or low red blood cell count, which occurs in up to half of people with RAA high erythrocyte sedimentation rate, also known as a sed or ESR rate, a crude measure of inflammation in your bodyHigh C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, another marker of inflammation
Aside from blood tests, an X-ray can help your doctor determine the degree of destruction in your joints, but may only be useful when RA has progressed to a later phase.
How Is Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosed?
Some patients still have RA but do not test positive for either anti-CCPs or RF — they have seronegative RA. Your doctor may also conduct a synovial biopsy, which involves removing a small piece of the tissue lining one of your joints. RELATED: Psoriatic vs Rheumatoid Arthritis: What’s The Difference?
Preclinical Rheumatoid Arthritis
Some people are highly at risk of RA but don’t yet have the condition — instead, they may have preclinical RA. People with preclinical RA have the biomarkers (RA or anti-CCP) of RA but don’t have the hallmark joint inflammation associated with the disease. Research suggests that tests can detect these biomarkers and autoantibodies three to five years before RA joint systems arise.
Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis With Infrared Light
In the near future, physicians may be able to diagnose RA with a noninvasive procedure using infrared light.
