May 26, 2008

Methods, Tests & Procedures For Diagnosis of Arthritis

Posted in Category : Bone, Joint & Muscles Disorders

Diagnosis of arthritis disorder is of utmost importance. Its significance exhibits when people get misconceptions and completely mess up things. People often neglect appropriate diagnosis of arthritis as they think of it as unnecessary investment of money and time in lab tests and physical examination. People just start home treatments or any known medication and try to circumvent the realities and facts about the arthritis disorder. This approach often lands them in serious trouble and overcoming from this situation is very cumbersome.

Understanding what arthritis is and what are the different steps involved in countering it is most recommended. Arthritis is special condition where in damage to the bone joints cause several effects on body like pain and swelling. Arthritis involves different forms and combined all those disorders related to joints in our body is called as Arthritis disorder. Arthritis is one of the major causes for disability in people with age more than fifty years.

There are different methods for diagnosis of arthritis depending on causes and symptoms of arthritis disorder. Various lab tests includes Rheumatoid factor test, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) test, C-reactive protein test, Anti-cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibody Test (anti-CCP), test for Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and complete blood count test. With these tests, you can conclude the diagnosis of arthritis disorder. In complete blood count test, various components like hemoglobin, RBC (red blood cell count), hematocrit, WBC (white blood cell count), the platelet count and some red blood cell indices are counted and depending on different percentage ratio, the type of arthritis is recognized.

Then other diagnosis procedures involves Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) protein are tested. The uric acid levels are tested in blood stream. Concentration of uric acid crystals is calculated and it can lead to possible gout arthritis. Then in other cases, joint syvonial fluid is extracted from body joints and different tests are performed to check the condition of joints and related areas. Test for Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) is very informative and is based on indirect immunofluorescence. The positive presence of such antibodies suggests presence of autoimmune diseases and arthritis.

The diagnosis of arthritis is amalgamation different factors. One particular symptom or cause can not diagnose any particular arthritis form. Different patterns of signs and symptoms, causes, effects, time and condition; all contribute to the corrective diagnosis of arthritis. Therefore, performing blood tests and other medical procedures for the diagnosis of arthritis is very beneficial and can help you reduce the arthritis disorder for sure.