RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PANEL

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology marked by a symmetric, peripheral polyarthritis. Serum antibodies to Cyclic citrullinated peptides (Anti CCP) are now recognised to be a valuable marker of diagnostic and prognostic significance. ANA’s occur both in systemic and organ specific autoimmune diseases showing positivity in Rheumatoid arthritis. There is incremental value in testing for presence of both Rheumatoid factor (RF) and Anti CCP as some patients with RA are positive for RF but negative for Anti CCP and vice versa.