Rheumatoid Arthritis Overview How Is Rheumatoid Arthritis
Diagnosed? continued... Most, but not all, people with
rheumatoid arthritis have the rheumatoid-factor (RF) antibody in
their blood. Rheumatoid factor may sometimes be present in
people who do not have rheumatoid arthritis (other diseases can
also cause the rheumatoid factor to be produced in the blood).
Therefore, the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is based on a
combination of joint abnormalities, as well as test results. A
newer, more specific blood test for rheumatoid arthritis is the
cylic citrulline antibody test, also called anti-CCP. The
presence of anti-CCP antibodies suggests a tendency toward a
more aggressive form of rheumatoid arthritis. People with
rheumatoid arthritis may have mild anemia. Blood tests may also
reveal an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or
elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, which are markers of
inflammation. Some people with rheumatoid arthritis may also
have a positive antinuclear antibody test (ANA