Arthritis check

Rheumatiod arthritis affects joints causing swelling, stiffness and pain. It can affect anyone at any age but is more common in women over 40. Symptoms include joint pain, inflammation in and around the joints, warm red skin over the affected joint. By testing for RF and anti-CPP, it is possible to detect rheumatoid arthritis well before the symptoms appear. This can lead to early treatment avoiding long term joint damage

Anti-CCP, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody, is used to confirm a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.

The presence of Anti-CCP Antibodies has been detected up to 10 years before the first Rheumatoid Arthritis symptoms are noted making the early treatment of the condition more effective and can avoid long term joint damage.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a common, chronic, autoimmune disease occurring in 1-2% of the world-wide population.

The damaging effects of rheumatoid arthritis are characterised by the inflammation of the joints and like many autoimmune diseases it occurs more frequently in females than males.

The importance of being able to differentiate between Rheumatoid Arthritis and other forms of joint and connective tissue disease is important. Anti-CCP Antibodies are present very early in Rheumatoid Arthritis and appear to have a high value in determining whether the disease is non-joint erosive or erosive.