RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

• Rheumatoid Arthritis: a comprehensive review - http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic2024.htm
• Spanish Society of Rheumatology: Clinical practice guideline for the management of rheumatoid arthritis - http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?doc_id=3683&nbr=002909&string=rheumatoid+AND+arthritis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis as a medical emergency - http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic48.htm
• Rheumatoid Arthritis of the spine: radiological perspective - http://www.emedicine.com/radio/topic836.htm
• Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis - http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic1749.htm
• Rheumatoid Hand - http://www.emedicine.com/plastic/topic475.htm
• Rheumatoid Arthritis Rehabilitation - http://www.emedicine.com/pmr/topic124.htm
• Rheumatoid Arthritis and Pregnancy - http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic3259.htm
• Ottawa Panel evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for therapeutic exercises in the management of rheumatoid arthritis in adults - http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?doc_id=6264&nbr=004019&string=rheumatoid+AND+arthritis
• Ottawa Panel evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for electrotherapy and thermotherapy interventions in the management of rheumatoid arthritis in adults - http://www.guideline.gov/summary/summary.aspx?doc_id=6265&nbr=004020&string=rheumatoid+AND+arthritis

Measures:

Lab Studies:

• American Association of Clinical Chemistry: Rheumatoid Factor (RF) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/rheumatoid/glance.html
• American Association of Clinical Chemistry: Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) test - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/ana/glance.html
• Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia: Synovial fluid examination - http://www.rcpamanual.edu.au/sections/pathologytest.asp?s=33&i=217
• American Association of Clinical Chemistry: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/esr/glance.html
• American Association of Clinical Chemistry: C-Reactive Protein (CRP) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/crp/glance.html
• American Association of Clinical Chemistry: Complete Blood Count (CBC) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/cbc/glance.html
• American Association of Clinical Chemistry: Peripheral blood smear - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/blood_smear/glance.html
• American Association of Clinical Chemistry: Serum Iron - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/serum_iron/glance.html
• American Association of Clinical Chemistry: Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) & Transferrin - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/tibc/glance.html
• American Association of Clinical Chemistry: Serum ferritin level - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/ferritin/glance.html
• American Association of Clinical Chemistry: Reticulocyte Count - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/reticulocyte/glance.html
• American Association of Clinical Chemistry: Platelet Count - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/platelet/glance.html

Additional lab tests that may be asked in a given patient:

• Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia: HLA typing - http://www.rcpamanual.edu.au/sections/pathologytest.asp?s=33&i=272
• Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti-CCP) - http://arthritis.about.com/od/radiagnosis/f/anticcp.htm

Additional lab tests that may be asked in cases of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA):

• Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) - plasma or serum - http://www.rcpamanual.edu.au/sections/pathologytest.asp?s=33&i=362

• Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia: Urinalysis - http://www.rcpamanual.edu.au/sections/pathologytest.asp?s=33&i=794

• Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia: Protein (total) - serum or plasma - http://www.rcpamanual.edu.au/sections/pathologytest.asp?s=33&i=571

• Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia: Albumin - plasma or serum - http://www.rcpamanual.edu.au/sections/pathologytest.asp?s=33&i=365

• Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia: Fibrinogen - plasma - http://www.rcpamanual.edu.au/sections/pathologytest.asp?s=33&i=804

• Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia: D-dimers - http://www.rcpamanual.edu.au/sections/pathologytest.asp?s=33&i=246

Additional radiological tests and diagnostic procedures that may be asked in cases of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA):

• ACC/AHA/ASE 2003 Guideline Update for the Clinical Application of Echocardiography - http://www.acc.org/clinical/guidelines/echo/index_clean.pdf

• Echocardiogram: a brief overview - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003869.htm

• Medline Plus: Pericardiocentesis - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003872.htm

• Medline Plus: Synovial biopsy - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003922.htm

Additional lab tests that may be required in a pregnant lady with rheumatoid arthritis:

• Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia: Blood group - http://www.rcpamanual.edu.au/sections/pathologytest.asp?s=33&i=233

• American Association of Clinical Chemistry: Syphilis detection test (RPR) - http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/syphilis/glance.html

• American Association of Clinical Chemistry: Hepatitis B (HBsAg) - http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/hepatitis_b/glance.html

• American Association of Clinical Chemistry: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) - http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/conditions/hiv-2.html

• American College of Radiology: Ultrasound - Obstetric - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/content/obstetric_ultrasound.htm

Radiological Studies:

Plain Radiography of the Extremities:

Bone scan:

• Medline Plus: Bone scan - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003833.htm

Bone Mineral Density (BMD) Measurement:

• International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD): Official Positions 2005 Updated -  http://www.iscd.org/Visitors/pdfs/ISCD_OP2005_000.pdf

• Precision Assessment and Radiation Safety for Dual energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA): White Paper of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry - http://www.iscd.org/Visitors/pdfs/RadiationSafetyWhitePaperWebPosting2005-06.pdf

Diagnostic Procedures:

• Medline Plus: Arthroscopy - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003418.htm
• Medline Plus: Knee arthroscopy - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002972.htm

Biopsies that may be considered if vasculitis or amyloidosis is suggested:

• Medline Plus: Skin lesion biopsy - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003840.htm
• Medline Plus: Nerve biopsy - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003928.htm
• Medline Plus: Rectal biopsy - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003891.htm
• Medline Plus: Renal biopsy - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003907.htm

Document Provenance and History

Document Author: Dr. Fazal Danish

Document Created: 8th May 2006

Document Edits: