Could I Have RA? Take this quiz to see if any of your symptoms are similar to rheumatoid arthritis. Although there isn’t a test that can definitively confirm a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, multiple blood tests can indicate if it is the likely cause of your symptoms. This complexity is due to the fact that rheumatoid arthritis can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages, as the early signs and symptoms often mimic those of many other diseases. There is no single blood test or physical finding that can confirm the diagnosis. During a physical exam, your doctor will check your joints for swelling, redness, and warmth.
Rheumatoid factor (RF) is an autoantibody often present in people with rheumatoid arthritis and some other autoimmune diseases. The association between RF and RA has been recognized for almost a century. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s tissues. Unlike osteoarthritis, which is due to wear-and-tear, rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of your joints, causing painful swelling that can eventually lead to bone erosion and joint deformity.
Understanding your symptoms is the first step to taking action. Try our interactive arthritis symptom checker tool to help communicate effectively with your healthcare provider about any symptoms you’re experiencing.
What is RA Remission? RA remission is either the total absence of symptoms or low disease activity. In remission, symptoms are controlled, quality of life is improved, and damaging inflammation has stopped. Remission can last from several months to several years before the condition relapses and symptoms and inflammation return.
The five tests the ACR favors for assessing disease activity are the CDAI, the 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28-ESR/CRP), Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI), Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3), and Patient Activity Scale-II (PAS-II). For more information, visit HealthCentral, Healthline, Mayo Clinic, HealthCentral on Rheumatoid Factor, and Mayo Clinic on Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms.
