How Is Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosed, And What Are The Most Common Tests Used In The Process?

— -- Question: How is rheumatoid arthritis diagnosed, and what are the most common tests used in the process?

Answer: The diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is one by history. Somebody who has had arthritis for more than three months in a joint and then get it in another joint, somebody who gets arthritis in both sides of the body -- both hands, both knees, both shoulders -- historically, it's very important to see how this arthritis develops.

And then there are examinations, which show the specific swelling in the hands, wrists, both sides of the body, most of the joints.

And then there are laboratory tests, such as rheumatoid factor, another test call anti-CCP which confirms the diagnosis in rheumatoid in more than 80 percent of patients who have it.

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