DISEASES
description
Arthritis refers to pain, swelling and or redness in the joints of the body. There are over 100 different forms of arthritis and it is often a feature of a wide range of infectious and autoimmune diseases. In the early stages of arthritis, lab tests, including antibody tests, are often used as a guide to an earlier and accurate diagnosis.
Mitogen offers a number of autoimmune and immune biomarker tests to aid in the diagnosis of arthritis. Notably, Mitogen’s Arthritis Test Panel includes two rheumatoid factor (RF) antigens and four distinct citrullinated peptides (CCP). Conventional anti-citrullinated protein autoantibody (ACPA) or anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) testing generates approximately 10-15% false-negative results for patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Mitogen’s comprehensive Arthritis Panel addresses these missed diagnoses with a much broader spectrum of CCP antigens. The Arthritis Test Panel has led to significant improvements in sensitivity for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis over conventional ACPA testing.
With the availability of this test, clinicians should avoid the costs and loss-of-time that inherent with early generations of CCP testing. By solely ordering this panel for suspected RA and known RA patients you gain an increased chance in early detection and missing fewer diagnostic opportunities.
Symptoms
- Pain or aching in more than one joint
- Stiffness in more than one joint
- Tenderness and swelling in more than one joint
- The same symptoms on both sides of the body (such as in both hands or both knees)
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Fatigue or tiredness
- Weakness
description
Juvenile arthritis is a disease in which there is inflammation (swelling) of the tissue that lines the inside of joints (called synovium) in children aged 16 or younger. Juvenile arthritis is an autoimmune disease, and while the main feature is joint involvement, other organs can be involved including inflammation of a part of the eye (uveal tract) that can lead to severe visual impairment or even blindness. The presence of anti-cellular antibodies (ACA / ANA) are used as a biomarker to alert the doctor that the likelihood of developing uveitis is high.
Symptoms
- Pain and / or limping (particularly after waking up)
- Joint swelling (often first noticed in larger joints such as the knee)
- Stiffness (the child may appear clumsier than usual, particularly after waking up)
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Rash
Relevant Dx Tests
Related Dx Tests
description
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder that affects joints of the body, but can be accompanied by inflammation in other organs as well such as the skin, eyes, lungs, heart and blood vessels. Unlike the wear-and-tear damage of the more common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis, RA affects the lining of your joints, causing a painful swelling that can eventually lead to loss of the smooth gliding cartilage of the joint, erosions of the bone around the joints and, if unchecked, loss of function and deformity of the joints. Many new medications have improved treatment options dramatically. Because it is important to make an early diagnosis before joint damage occurs, autoimmune diagnostic test for autoantibodies called rheumatoid factor (RF), antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptides (ACPA / CCP) and other proteins in the joint (carbamylated peptides, peptidyl arginine deiminase (PAD)) are used as an aid to diagnosis.
Symptoms
- Pain or aching in more than one joint
- Stiffness in more than one joint
- Tenderness and swelling in more than one joint
- The same symptoms on both sides of the body (such as in both hands or both knees)
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Fatigue or tiredness
- Weakness
description
Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MCTD) refers to a an ‘overlap’ condition where patients develop features of other autoimmune conditions such as Raynaud’s, taught finger swelling (features of early scleroderma), arthritis and muscle inflammation (myositis). It is important to distinguish MCTD from other overlap conditions. The antibody hallmark of MCTD, and requirement for the classification and diagnosis of the disease is anti-U1-RNP.
Symptoms
- General feeling of being unwell (This can include increased fatigue and a mild fever)
- Cold and numb fingers or toes
- Raynaud’s phenomenon (In response to cold or stress, your fingers or toes might turn white and then purplish blue. After warming, the fingers or toes turn red)
- Swollen fingers or hands
- Muscle and joint pain (Joints can become inflamed, swollen and deformed, similar to what occurs with rheumatoid arthritis)
- Rash (Red or reddish brown patches can appear over the knuckles)
description
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disorder that affects joints of the body, but can be accompanied by inflammation in other organs as well such as the skin, eyes, lungs, heart and blood vessels. Unlike the wear-and-tear damage of the more common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis, RA affects the lining of your joints, causing a painful swelling that can eventually lead to loss of the smooth gliding cartilage of the joint, erosions of the bone around the joints and, if unchecked, loss of function and deformity of the joints. Many new medications have improved treatment options dramatically. Because it is important to make an early diagnosis before joint damage occurs, autoimmune diagnostic test for autoantibodies called rheumatoid factor (RF), antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptides (ACPA / CCP) and other proteins in the joint (carbamylated peptides, peptidyl arginine deiminase (PAD)) are used as an aid to diagnosis.
Symptoms
- Pain or aching in more than one joint
- Stiffness in more than one joint
- Tenderness and swelling in more than one joint
- The same symptoms on both sides of the body (such as in both hands or both knees)
- Weight loss
- Fatigue or tiredness
- Weakness