Harrison's Manual of Medicine 17/e
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Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

Evaluation

  • Hx and physical exam with careful examination of all joints.
  • Rheumatoid factor (RF) is present in >66% of pts; its presence correlates with severe disease, nodules, extraarticular features.
  • Antibodies to cyclic citrullinated protein (anti-CCP) have similar sensitivity but higher specificity than RF; may be most useful in early RA; presence most common in pts with aggressive disease with a tendency for developing bone erosions.
  • Other laboratory data: CBC, ESR.
  • Synovial fluid analysis-useful to rule out crystalline disease, infection.
  • Radiographs-juxtaarticular osteopenia, joint space narrowing, marginal erosions. Chest x-ray should be obtained.

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[ Clinical Manifestations ]Evaluation
Last updated: May 11, 2009
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