Question about testing for arthritis

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

My question, is there a test that the doctors can do to see if you

have arthritis(early stages)?

A little about myself. I'm in my early forties and I'm a Letter

r. For the past few months my hands and feet have been aching

with no signs of swelling. My mom has rheumatoid arthritis and has

had it since she was a young girl. It went into remission, but has

since returned.

Thanks in advance,

Di

[Guest guest]

Yes--perhaps could find an article on the CCP test. I have pain

with no swelling.

Sierra

> Hi Everyone,

> My question, is there a test that the doctors can do to see if you

> have arthritis(early stages)?

> A little about myself. I'm in my early forties and I'm a Letter

> r. For the past few months my hands and feet have been aching

> with no signs of swelling. My mom has rheumatoid arthritis and has

> had it since she was a young girl. It went into remission, but has

> since returned.

> Thanks in advance,

> Di

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the group, Di! Sorry to hear that your hands and feet are

giving you trouble and that you're wondering about whether you could

have RA.

Yes, there are tests that can help get the diagnosis earlier, but,

unfortunately, there is no single test that is 100% predictive of RA.

RA is still a diagnosis largely made on clinical grounds; that is, by

the observations made and conclusions drawn by an experienced physician

who examines and questions you and also takes into account your history

and the results of any lab tests performed.

If your mother has RA, your symptoms will be viewed with more suspicion

than the average person who has no family history of RA or other immune

system problems.

Traditionally, the labs used to help investigate the possibility of RA

in an individual are: the rheumatoid factor (RF), the sedimentation rate

(sed rate), and x-rays of the feet and/or hands.

RF is present in around 70 - 80% of RA patients, sed rate is a measure

of inflammation (but not specific to RA), and the x-rays are used to

check for any abnormalities characteristic of RA.

More recently, C-reactive protein (CRP) is also used to determine the

presence of an inflammatory condition. Some physicians use it instead of

the sed rate. Like sed rate though, CRP is not specific to RA.

Sierra mentioned the CCP test. CCP stands for cyclic citrullinated

peptide. Antibodies to CCP are more specific to RA than RF, but they

don't occur exclusively in those with RA or in all people with RA. In

addition, anti-CCP antibodies are more likely to occur in those who are

RF-positive.

Antikeratin antibodies (AKA), antifilaggrin (AFA) antibodies, and

antiperinuclear factor (APF) are found in those with RA, too, and have

been of current interest.

According to preliminary data, testing for anti-CCP and RF together

seems to be the most worthwhile investigation in an individual suspected

to have RA.

" FBR RDL Fact Sheet: Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide (CCP): A New Serum

Marker for Rheumatoid Arthritis " :

http://www.fbr.org/publications/factsheets/fs-ccp.html

ls of Rheumatic Disease

" Autoantibodies can be prognostic markers of an erosive disease in early

rheumatoid arthritis " :

http://ard.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/62/5/427

American College of Rheumatology Hotline

" The Use of Anticyclic Citrullinated Peptide (anti-CCP) Antibodies in

RA " :

http://www.rheumatology.org/publications/hotline/1003anticcp.asp?aud=mem

We've realized that ordinary x-rays haven't provided information early

enough in the disease process, so other methods have been explored

including MRI and ultrasound techniques. Here's an interesting article

on laser-based imaging that may be used in the future in order to detect

RA-like changes earlier:

Innovations-Report.com

" New Laser-based Imaging for Early Diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis " :

http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/medicine_health/report-9512.html

I'm not sure whether your physician will be willing to perform any of

the newer tests (or if they are available at your lab or medical testing

center or if your insurance will cover it), but it doesn't hurt to ask.

Have you seen a rheumatologist yet?

a's site has a whole section on testing:

http://rheumatoid.arthritis.freehosting.net/Lab%20Tests.html

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] Question about testing for arthritis

> Hi Everyone,

> My question, is there a test that the doctors can do to see if you

> have arthritis(early stages)?

> A little about myself. I'm in my early forties and I'm a Letter

> r. For the past few months my hands and feet have been aching

> with no signs of swelling. My mom has rheumatoid arthritis and has

> had it since she was a young girl. It went into remission, but has

> since returned.

> Thanks in advance,

> Di