Blood Tests for Detecting Rheumatoid Arthritis
Arthritis can be of different types. The treatment programs suggested of different arthritis types vary significantly. So, it is extremely important to diagnose the kind of arthritis one is suffering from. In this article, we’ll be discussing about the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Rheumatoid arthritis is primarily diagnosed using blood tests. If the doctor feels that the symptoms experienced by you are indicating occurrence of RA, he will ask you to undergo these blood tests. The earlier RA is diagnosed the faster you will be able to receive proper treatment.
When does one develop RA? One becomes a victim of RA when lining of his joints gets inflamed. Rheumatoid arthritis is categorized as a chronic autoimmune disease. The term autoimmune disease refers to a condition that forces our own immune system to attack our body. RA is marked by signs like pain and stiffness in the joints; severe cases of RA may also lead to joint deformity. Usually, RA progresses through certain stages. The doctor can also get blood tests done for determining how much active the condition is. You might also need to undergo RA blood tests at regular intervals for checking how your body is reacting to the treatment program prescribed by the doctor.
After performing a physical exam, the doctor will recommend you to get blood tests done for finding out erythrocyte sedimentation rate or ESR. This test is done measuring the rate at with RBCs fall on the test tube’s bottom. The next test is done for judging the levels of C-reactive protein. This will reveal how your immune system is functioning. The other blood test done for identifying RA is for checking presence of RF or rheumatoid factor.
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