- Rheumatoid Factor:
- present in most RA patients (80 % of affected pts);
- associated w/ increased morbidity;
- Synovial Fluid:
- analysis of synovial fluid is extremely useful in distinguishing early RA from non-inflammatory
and infectious arthritides;
- joint fluid from patients w/ RA is sterile & has
pleocytosis (usually
PMN), incr protein, & decreased viscosity & decreased complement;
- viscosity: expect decreased viscosity and poor mucin clot formation;
- ESR:
- active RA dz is frequently, accompanied by an elevated ESR;
- although sed rate is elevated in majority of patients who have RA, normal rate does not exclude that diagnosis;
- for most pts, this test is good indicator of response to medical therapy and the activity of the disease;
- C Reactive Protein:
