Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) It is an autoimmune condition that causes arthritis. A doctor will diagnose it after looking at the person’s symptoms, physical examination results, blood tests, and radiology results.
According to a report by the site medicalnewstoday Doctors can test blood samples for many of the inflammatory and immune system markers typically found in a person with rheumatoid arthritis..
The following lines present the types of blood tests that can help determine whether a person has rheumatoid arthritis.
Blood tests to detect rheumatoid arthritis
rheumatoid factor
This test measures the level of RF It acts as an antibody against gamma globulin, a type of natural protein in the blood.
A normal RF range is between 0 and 20 units per ml A higher level may indicate rheumatoid arthritis, but this alone does not confirm the presence of the condition. Many other health conditions can increase RF levels in the body, and about 5% of people with high levels of radiofrequency do not have rheumatoid arthritis.
Similarly, about 20% of people with rheumatoid arthritis do not have high levels of radiofrequency, which is why doctors may need other tests, such as an antibody test. CCP , to confirm the diagnosis.
In some cases, some viruses can cause symptoms similar to those of rheumatoid arthritis and lead to a positive result on a radiofrequency test. Examples of viruses that can cause this include parvovirus. B19 And hepatitis C.
The person may need additional tests, such as a hepatitis antibody test C To rule out this viral infection, however, a doctor may only need to test for viruses such as parvovirus if there is a proven risk of exposure, for example, if the person has been in contact with a high-risk group, such as children.
antinuclear antibody
This test looks for high levels of antinuclear antibodies (Anas) These are blood proteins that can attack the cell nucleus and destroy the cell.
Antinuclear antibodies can be found in people with a number of conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, Sjogren’s disease, and mixed connective tissue disease. (ANA) It alone cannot confirm the presence of rheumatoid arthritis.
C-reactive protein
This test checks for the presence of C-reactive protein (CRP) The protein, which is produced by the liver in response to inflammation in the body, helps regulate immune reactions CRP To inflammation of a organ of the body.
can indicate the presence of CRP Inflammation anywhere in the body, and a positive test result may indicate rheumatoid arthritis or another condition, such as diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, depression, or lung disease..
sedimentation rate
This test measures the speed at which red blood cells in a blood sample clump together and settle to the bottom of a test tube over the course of an hour. Doctors sometimes call this the sed rate. It can indicate whether or not there is inflammation in the body..
Other factors besides rheumatoid arthritis, such as infection and advanced age, can also lead to an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. (ESR). A person’s results can also vary over time.
For males, rates range ESR The normal range is 0 to 20 millimeters (mm) per hour, depending on their age For females, the normal range is 0 to 30 millimeters per hour, depending on age, these ranges tend to be higher in people over 50.