Health and Fitness Oasis

There are over 100 different forms of arthritis.  Due to the variety and different ways in which the disease presents itself, there are conclusive tests to determine that an individual suffers from arthritis.  Arthritic conditions can affect the joints, bones, soft tissue and organ systems depending upon which condition is present.  When doctors piece together a diagnoses, they may use blood tests, imaging studies, a thorough history and a physical in order to determine an accurate diagnosis.
 
Arthritis does not usually exist in a vacuum.  This means that patients often have more than one medical condition or disease process going on at the same time.  Therefore, tests are used not only to identify the disease but to rule out other issues which may be causing the same symptoms.  Sometimes doctors have to use a diagnosis of exclusion.  This means the doctor will exclude everything else that the condition could be and will be left with the most probable diagnosis.

 
Blood tests are used to not only identify the disease but also evaluate the progression and to make decisions about a treatment plan.  After an accurate diagnosis is done blood testing can be used to evaluate the efficacy of the medications and therapies and the effects that they’ve had on the patient.

Doctors will usually draw blood at their office, using a nurse or phlebotomist.  The blood is put into different files that have different colored tops.  Each colored top represents a different type of preservative or reactive agent for the different types of blood tests being drawn.  Some tests can take up to 24 hours to get results and others may take up to two weeks.
 
In the first test, the physician will often order a complete blood count (CBC) which will help determine if the patient has a low red blood count and also the status of white cells used to fight infection.  A complete blood count will also give an indication of the level of platelets available to help in clotting.  Individuals who suffer from arthritis will often have minor abnormalities in these specific blood counts because of the increased inflammation in the body. 

One commonly known test, the rheumatoid factor (RF) is a blood test which detects antibodies in the blood that some individuals with arthritis have. Doctors will use this test in combination with other results to make decisions about treatment protocols but not as an individual test result. The anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) are antibodies found in individuals who have arthritic conditions.  This test is used as a screening test also for Lupus because the test detects inflammation in the joints, soft tissue and organ systems.
 
Blood tests, or any other tests, are not conclusive for arthritis.  Doctors will use a combination of physical exams, a thorough medical history check of both patient and their family and also blood tests to identify any problems with arthritis.  They may also use imaging tests that include x-rays, bone scans, MRI, CAT scan and pulmonary function tests.  An accurate diagnosis is the only way to develop the best treatment plan that will combat arthritic pain and inflammation as well as slow down progression of the disease.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 30th, 2009 at 11:23 pm and is filed under Health Tips, arthritis. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.