The Role of the Laboratory in the Diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis

August 2011

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by chronic joint inflammation that ultimately leads to joint destruction. Diagnosis of early disease is important. While the diagnosis of RA is established primarily on clinical criteria (physical examination and radiographic evaluation), laboratory testing for cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies contributes to early RA diagnosis.

Presenter:

• Dr. Melissa Snyder of the Division of Clinical Biochemistry and Immunology at Mayo Clinic

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Related Tests

• Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA), Serum
• Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibodies, IgG, Serum
• Connective Tissue Diseases Cascade, Serum

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• General Practitioners
• Rheumatologists
• Immunologists

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