| 1 |
RHEUMATOID
FACTOR (RF) |
Fasting
state not required. A measure of its titre
(amount) is useful and should always be
done. Generally, a positive value is considered
to be higher than 40 IU/ml |
Useful
for diagnosis of Rheumatoid arthritis. RF
is present in the serum of 75-80% of patients
with RA at some time during the disease
course. However, RF is a non-specific test
and a positive RF is observed in 5-6% of
healthy population at low titre. A positive
test needs clinical correlation. |
| 2 |
C-REACTIVE
PROTEIN (CRP) |
Fasting
state not required ; the amount should always
be measured as a titre |
It
is a non-specific marker of inflammation
which can be performed any time even in
a non fasting state. Just like ESR, serial
measurements of the CRP are useful in following
the clinical activity of RA and other inflammatory
arthritis. |
| 3 |
ANTINUCLEAR
ANTIBODY (ANA) |
Fasting
state not required; it is an expensive test
and should not be done as a routine in every
patient of arthritis. |
ANA
occur in high frequency in systemic rheumatic
diseases. Useful as a screening test for
systemic connective tissue disorders / collagen
vascular disease. Some drugs can cause positive
ANA. A positive ANA is associated with a
number of infections, neoplastic diseases
and other conditions. |
| 4 |
ANTI
dsDNA ANTIBODY |
Fasting
state not required; an expensive test |
An
indicator of diagnosis, disease activity
and response to treatment in cases of SLE.
It is rarely positive in other diseases
|
| 5 |
ANTINUCLEAR
ANTIBODY - WESTERN BLOT |
Fasting
state not required; A expensive test; can
screen several antinuclear antibodies at
one time. |
The
various nuclear antigens include Anti Smith
antibody (Sm), Anti Ribonuclear protein(RNP),
Anti SSA, Anti SSB, Anti Scl-70, Anti Jo-1,
Anti PCNA, Anti Centromere antibody etc.
Some of the above antibodies are diagnostic
for certain connective tissue disorders
e.g. Scleroderma, MCTD |
| 6 |
ANTI
– CYCLIC CITRULLINATED PEPTIDE (CCP)ANTIBODIES |
Fasting
state not required; an expensive test. |
Newly
described markers in rheumatoid arthritis.
Useful in patients of rheumatoid arthritis
who do not show rheumatoid factor |
7 |
ANTI-STREPTOLYSIN
‘O’ TITER (ASO) |
Fasting
state not required |
For
detection of Rheumatic Fever & its complications
but Clinical correlation is a must May be
raised in any streptococcal infection. |
| 8 |
VDRL |
Fasting
state not required |
A
test for syphilis. Several sexually transmitted
infections can cause arthritis |
| 9 |
HLA
B27 by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) |
Fasting
state not required; a special immunogenetic
marker; the technique requires sophisticated
equipment |
A
genetic marker for Ankylosing Spondylitis
& related Seronegative forms of arthritis.
6-8% of healthy population may also show
B27 |
