RA is considered to be an autoimmune disease. When the immune system attacks your own body like it would work against invaders like bacteria and viruses.
RA is considered to be an autoimmune disease.
When the immune system attacks your own body like it would work against invaders like bacteria and viruses.
Key Facts
- About 70% of people living with rheumatoid arthritis are women, and 55% are older than 55 years.
- 13 million people with rheumatoid arthritis experience severity levels (moderate or severe) that could benefit from rehabilitation.
- Musculoskeletal complains accounts for more than 315 million outpatient visits per year.
When the patient suffers from RA, the immune system also begins to “look at” the joints as a foreign body and generates the antibodies against them as they would in the case of any infection. Eventually, attacking its own body cells.
The Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is primarily considered to be a long-term autoimmune disorder that affects the joints of the person.
It characteristically results in the following features:
- Warm Joints
- Swollen Joints
- Painful Joints
The Pain and Stiffness are seen often seen to worsen after a good rest period.
The Most commonly involved are the - wrist and hands, with the same joints typically involved on both sides of the body.
The disease is also seen affecting the other parts of body.
For example:
This results in the following findings:
- Low Red Blood Cell Count
- Inflammation Around The Lungs
- Inflammation Around The Heart
Fever and Low Energy might also be seen.
Most Often, the symptoms appear gradually over a few weeks to months time
Risk Factors
The main 2 risk factors are the following:
- Family History of RA
- Excess Weight
Others include:
- Smoking
- Being Exposed To Chemicals (Silica, Asbestos)
Diagnosis of RA
When diagnosing the RA, your healthcare provider might ask you about the following:
- If the patient’s family members who suffer from or had RA
- If the patient has an existing or past autoimmune disorders
- If the patient’s family members has other autoimmune disorders
- If there are any other medical conditions, illnesses or any complications
Blood Tests
The general blood tests are used to look for an overall inflammation level in the body.
When these results are seen to be placed together, they would create an overall picture of the patient with RA .These tests include the following:
- Rheumatoid factor
- anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide (CCP)
- Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP)
Rheumatoid Factor
If it is positive- it is usually indicative of RA
Rheumatoid factor is a type of an antibody found in majority of RA patients.
If an individual tests positive for the rheumatoid factor it would helps to reach a particular diagnosis, but its presence would not be able to confirm it.
Note: Many patients that are suffer from other autoimmune disorders and inflammatory conditions would test positive for the rheumatoid factor but not necessarily have rheumatoid arthritis.
Anti-CCP
If the patient tests positive for the anti-CCP, it is a strong indicator of the RA. The anti-CCP antibodies usually can exist in a person’s body system way before they ever exhibit the symptoms of RA.
ESR and CRP
ESR and CRP are tests that the healthcare professionals use to measure level of the inflammation in a patient’s joints.
If the individual indicates certain level of inflammation and also exhibits symptoms of the RA, this would then become a very strong indicator of the possible RA diagnosis.
Imaging Scans
These include the following
In these particular imaging scans, the doctors could try to look out for signs of the joint damage.
Moreover, the Bone and cartilage erosion as well as the narrowing of the joint spaces could be signs of RA.
Reaching an RA Diagnosis
The Red Flag diagnosis includes:
- Septic Arthritis
- Acute-Crystal Arthritis
- Gout
- Fracture
The patient should be able to exhibit symptoms for greater than a period of six weeks, with symmetrical symptoms, as well as the multiple joints being affected including the fingers and hands.
Classifying RA Types
If the patient displays all its symptoms of RA and then it tests positive for the antibodies then they can also be diagnosed with a seropositive RA.
However, if the patient displays all symptoms of RA, but if he/she does not test positive for the antibodies, the healthcare professionals can make a seronegative RA diagnosis.
Different Drug Treatments
There’s no cure for RA. Also, there is no way to reverse the joint damage. Treatments for the disease aim to reduce the pain that would help the joint work better.
Note: With RA, the goal of the treatment is to either slow or completely stop the disease activity – so that the body doesn’t attack its own healthy cells.
Management of RA
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Corticosteroids
- Disease-modifying drugs (i.e. the traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, or the DMARDs, and the biologic drugs
- Acetaminophen, which would reduce the pain but not influence inflammation.
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and maintaining BMI weight.
- Physiotherapy exercises to maintain proper posture and ensure rehabilitation.
To seek Free Consultation from the Doctor:
Contact: Dr. Ravin Sharma, (MBBS, MD in Radiology)
Available: 24*7*365
Phone Number: +91 9212125996
Why Ganesh Diagnostic and Imaging Centre should be your preference to screen you for Rheumatoid Arthritis?
At Ganesh Diagnostic and Imaging Centre, we are known for providing excellent service and care to its patients for decades. Lakhs of satisfied patients over the years!
It is an established and renowned diagnostic centre since 2001.
Their excellence is backed by NABH and NABL Accreditations.
NABH accreditation is proof of highest standard of care and service provided to the patients. NABL accreditation reflects the competency of laboratories and equipment based on some national and international standards.
Test report is available digitally too.
Ganesh Diagnostic and Imaging Centre is a one-stop solution for getting all kinds of tests done, as all services are available under one roof.
The aim of GDIC is to provide the world’s finest technology at the lowest price.
The rates of scans are reasonably priced. Ganesh Diagnostic and Imaging Centre also offer FLAT 50% OFF on many tests.
- Anti Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide (CCP)- BOOK NOW
- CRP (C-Reactive Protein)- BOOK NOW
- Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR)- BOOK NOW
- Rheumatoid Factor- BOOK NOW
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Panel- BOOK NOW
- Rheumatoid Arthritis Comprehensive Panel- BOOK NOW
References:
- https://www.rheumatoidarthritis.org/ra/diagnosis/
- https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/Rheumatoid-arthritis
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rheumatoid_arthritis#Diagnosis
- Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, 20th edition, Volume 2
