BLOOD and FLUID TESTS
Blood and fluid tests have several useful roles in managing arthritis.
- Blood tests can be done to help diagnose or rule out different types of arthritis.
- Blood tests can help monitor the activity of arthritis to help determine of medications are working properly.
- Blood tests may be needed to make sure that medications are not causing organ or blood cell damage.
- Joint fluid tests can help determine the cause of arthritis.
BLOOD TESTS
There are several types of blood tests. Discuss details with your doctor, but here is a brief rundown of the most popular “arthritis” tests:
- Blood cell testing: CBC (complete blood count) checks levels of the various blood cells. red cells (carry and deliver oxygen around the body) and platelets (clot the blood during Bleeding episodes) are included, although they may not be very useful in the diagnosis and management of arthritis. However, white blood cell count elevation can indicate joint infection.
- Inflammatory markers: Several tests can detect inflammation to confirm the presence of an inflammatory disorder.
- ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate): determines the level of inflammation in the body by measuring how long it takes bloodcells to clump together.
- CRP (C-reactive protein): is produced in high levels when the body is undergoing extreme inflammation
- Antibody testing: In immune-mediated arthritis, the immune system designed to protect the body attacks it instead. Depending on the condition, different proteins are released from the immune system. There are several blood tests to help detect specific antibodies that are unique to certain arthritis subtypes:
- RF (rheumatoid factor) and anti-CCP for rheumatoid arthritis.
- Anti-SSA and anti-SSB for Sjogrens syndrome
- Antinuclear antibodies can help rule in the possibility of certain types of arthritis.
- Genetic marker testing: Several types of arthritis have a genetic link. That means that some of us may have genes that predispose us to getting autoimmune arthritis.
- HLA blood testing: certain proteins on white blood cells may cause the body’s immune system to malfunction. HLA-B27 is one example, linked to increased risk to have ankylosing spondylitis. HLA-DRB1 is linkd to rheumatoid arthritis.
- Miscellaneous blood testing. Other testing may be required to check for arthritis-related effects on other parts of the body and to monitor for medication side effects.
- Organ testing: blood tests for live r and kidney function may be important in the types of arthritis like lupus that cause problems in throughout the body. Also, many medications can cause organ-related stress.
- Liver function tests include AST, ALT, GGT, alkaline phosphatase, and bilirubin.
- Kidney tests include creatinine and BUN (blood urea nitrogen).
- Muscle testing: Certain types of arthritis, as well as pain syndromes that mimic arthritis, may cause muscle injury. Creatine phosphokinase (cpk), aldolase, and myoglobin are the most common tests for muscle.
FLUID TESTS
Joint fluid testing: If fluid is taken from a swollen, inflamed joint, its contents can be analyzed to help determine its cause.
- Cell count: the fluid will typically have blood cells. High numbers of red blood cells can indicate traumatic injury, while white blood cells can indicate an autoimmune malfunction or infectious arthritis.
- Gram stain and culture: If infection is suspected, these tests can help determine the organism involved, which is important for doctors to be able to prescribe the correct antibiotics.
- Crystal analysis: When looking at the fluid under a microscope, crystals may be found to indicate arthritis from gout (uric acid crystals) or pseudogout (calcium crystals)
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