What tests will confirm the diagnosis of osteoarthritis?

X−Rays. Osteoarthritis is often visible on x−rays. Cartilage loss is indicated by certain images:
  • If the normal space between the bones in a joint is narrowed.
  • If there is an abnormal increase in bone density.
  • If bony projections, cysts, or erosions are evident.
  • X−rays can also reveal any cysts that might develop in osteoarthritic joints. If other conditions are suspected or if the diagnosis is uncertain, additional tests will be performed.
Blood test results may help diagnose or rule out osteoarthritis. Some examples include the following:
  • Elevated levels of rheumatoid factor (specific antibodies in the synovium) and so−called erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESR or sed rate) indicate rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Byproducts of hyaluronic acid, a joint lubricant, may prove to be markers of the lubricant's breakdown and an indicator of osteoarthritis.
  • Elevated levels of a factor called C−reactive protein, which is produced by the liver in response to inflammation, are proving to be good predictors of osteoarthritic progression in the knee.
·
Tests of the Synovial Fluid. If the diagnosis is uncertain or infection is suspected, the physician may attempt to withdraw synovial fluid from the joint using a needle. If the joint is normal, there is not enough fluid to withdraw. If there is, then problems are likely and the fluid is tested for factors that might confirm or rule out osteoarthritis:
  • Cartilage cells in the fluid are signs of osteoarthritis.
  • A high white blood cell count is a sign of infection.
  • High uric acid in the fluid is an indication of gout.
Other factors may be present that suggest different arthritic conditions, including Lyme disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
In people with known osteoarthritis, researchers may look for certain factors in synovial fluid (e.g., sulfated glycosaminoglycan, keratin sulfate, and link protein) that can suggest a more or less severe condition.

 

Arthritis News

Arthritis of the spine often overlooked in children

When kids or teens experience aching joints and stiffness it may be more than growing pains. It may be arthritis of the spine and other joints (ankylosing spondylitis), which researchers report can of...

Treatment Of Psoriatic Arthritis - Humira (Adalimumab) Approved In Europe

"Until today, the options for patients and physicians seeking an effective medication to treat both the joint and skin aspects of psoriatic arthritis were limited," said Serge Steinfeld, M.D...

Rheumatoid arthritis, contradictory immune responses explain different therapeutic effects

Using a humanized mouse model that mimics the effects of human rheuma-toid arthritis (RA), researchers have discovered that protein growth factors called cytokines in the immune system have both pro- ...