Blood test for rheumatic tests
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Revmoproby is an analysis that determines the presence of markers of the inflammatory process in the blood. They are one of the methods of early diagnosis of oncological diseases, rheumatism, and infectious pathologies.
What tests are included in the rheumatic tests and what do they show?
The analysis is a complex study, during which the number of major factors capable of provoking oncology and other pathologies is determined. It is important to know the percentage of these indicators, since any change can indicate different forms of pathology. By these indicators, it is possible to identify the severity of the disease, to determine its stage.
The identification of these indicators makes it possible to identify the etiologic factor and develop tactics and strategies for further fighting. Also, with this analysis, you can monitor the treatment process, if necessary, make certain adjustments.
RF
Rheumatoid factor is an indicator of an acute pathological process in the body. In a healthy person, these indicators are zero, that is, the rheumatoid factor is absent. Nevertheless, there are certain indicators that are considered admissible, and are considered as indicators of the norm. So, for an adult, the rheumatoid factor should not exceed 14 IU / ml. If the indicators do not exceed the allowable rate, the result is considered negative when increasing - there is a positive result. The indicators differ for different age categories: for children they are lower, for an adult person - higher.
The appearance of it in the blood can be physiological, that is, it arises on natural for the organism, quite explainable reasons. For example, the increase occurs if, in the evening before taking the test, a person used fatty foods, engaged in heavy physical labor, or intensive physical exercises. Almost always this protein is present in the blood of an elderly person, which is associated with natural age-related changes in the body. When taking some medications, the level can be significantly reduced, which gives a false negative result.
If the amount of RF significantly exceeds the norm, this is a sign of an inflammatory disease of any etiology and localization. This often occurs with rheumatoid arthritis, hepatitis, mononucleosis, autoimmune diseases.
Antistreptolysin ASELO
It is a factor aimed at lysis (elimination) of streptococcal infection. That is, its growth occurs with an elevated content of streptococci. This can occur with various infectious and inflammatory diseases, bacteremia, sepsis. Often, the increase in streptococci occurs with a primary lesion of the urogenital tract, respiratory tract, kidneys, intestines. With prolonged exposure to the body of the infection, autoimmune diseases can develop. As complications, sepsis, purulent and erysipelas are considered.
In healthy individuals, Antistreptolysin O is also present in the blood, but its indicators should be within the permissible range. Also, account must be taken of the presence of co-factors that may indicate infection. The level of antistreptolysin may increase against the background of excessive cholesterol, with high physical exertion and stress. False negative results with a low level of antistreptolysin protein can be obtained by taking certain hormonal drugs and antibiotics.
Seromucoids
This is a complex of serum glycoproteins, which contain a carbohydrate component, due to which it performs a number of functions in the body. Usually, the amount of seromucoids in plasma sharply increases against the background of inflammation. This has an important diagnostic value in many pathological conditions, slow inflammations, which practically do not bother the person and are difficult to detect by clinical methods. This is one of the most reliable methods of early diagnosis.
It allows timely detection of such diseases as diabetes mellitus, myocardial infarction, pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis, tuberculosis. The importance of this method is that it makes it possible to identify the disease long before it manifests itself clinically, accordingly, measures can be taken to prevent it.
It is also often used to conclude that it is advisable to perform thyroidectomy, that is, to remove the thyroid gland. It is an additional, refining method for diagnosing oncology.
C-reactive protein
One of the indicators of acute inflammatory process. It is used both for diagnosis and for monitoring the effectiveness of treatment. So, an increase in the amount of this protein in the plasma indicates the development of inflammation. If, on the background of ongoing treatment, the level decreases - this indicates the effectiveness of treatment. It can also be a sign of an oncological disease, a harbinger of a myocardial infarction. A low level of this protein is ignored, as it has no clinical significance. Performs important physiological functions in the human body, for example, increases the number of antibodies required to fight infection against an infectious disease. It stimulates and activates the immune system. But this function has the downside - excessive stimulation of the immune system can lead to the development of autoimmune pathology, in which the internal organs are damaged by their own antibodies.
His reaction speed is high. Reacts quickly (within 4-5 hours after infection). The rate of growth of the level of this protein is directly proportional to the rate of development of pathology. The more active the disease progresses, the faster the protein level rises. Therefore, monitoring these indicators in dynamics can be an important diagnostic value.
It should also be taken into account that the protein shows only the acute stage of the disease, when it changes into a chronic form, the amount of protein becomes normal. Therefore, it is important to conduct the study on time. Growth can resume when the disease passes from a chronic form to a stage of exacerbation.
Indications for the procedure of the rheumatic tests
It is advisable to go for preventive purposes, people older than 25-27 years, as well as those who have a hereditary predisposition to the development of cancer. It is prescribed for all patients who have complaints of pain in the joints, muscles, any other pain of a permanent nature. Carried out with an unreasonable increase in body temperature, especially if it lasts long enough, and does not decrease when taking antipyretics. Indications are joint stiffness, swelling. Prolonged headaches, rheumatoid arthritis are also direct indications for analysis.
Preparation
8 hours before the test, you should not eat. You can only drink water without gas. Also, it is not recommended to eat fatty foods, any medications for a few days before the study. This will eliminate the possibility of inaccuracies and erroneous data and will increase the reliability of the study. If treatment with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs and other drugs was conducted, the analysis should be postponed for 2 weeks. If you can not cancel taking medications, or you need an urgent medicine, you need to inform the doctor about it. Also, the day before the test is not recommended to take tea, medicines, coffee, fried foods. Excessive physical and mental stress should be avoided.
Whether it is possible to hand over the analysis on rhevmoproby without an exacerbation?
Outside exacerbation they take samples with a preventive purpose. It is recommended to do this to the elderly in the first place, as well as to persons performing for 25 years. Surrender is necessary every year. Also, a study should be carried out on people with a tendency to cancer, with rheumatism, persistent pain and frequent fever.
Sample can also be done to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy. At the stage of exacerbation, they are carried out for the initial diagnosis. It makes no sense to take an analysis for the determination of CRP outside the acute phase, since it is an indicator of an acute inflammatory process and in the absence of a disease, or outside the acute stage its level will be normal.
Technique of the rheumatic tests
To carry out the analysis, you need a proper blood collection from the vein. This is performed in the procedural room by a procedural nurse. Blood needs a little. After this, it is placed in a test tube. The PCR method was used to conduct the research directly , but today it is obsolete, therefore, the turbo-metric method is preferred. In this case, a quantitative determination is made and the percentage ratio of the indicated indicators is determined. The results are given in the form of a medical report.
How do they take blood for rheumatic tests?
She is taken in a laboratory from a vein, by a conventional venipuncture, with observance of all the rules of asepsis and technique of venous blood sampling. Then they deliver it to the laboratory for further research.
Normal performance
For this analysis, the norm is a very conventional name. It is necessary to understand, rheumatic tests are a complex of studies, which consist of the definition of various independent indicators, which may not be connected in any way. Each of the studied indicators has its own individual norms. Besides, they essentially depend on the age, the physiological state of the organism, the anamnesis of life and illness.
Revmoprobes are negative
Negative results are said when the indicators are within the norm, or below it. It all depends on the specific sample. In general, low indices indicate a functional state of the body, for example, pregnancy, overwork, nervous overexertion.
[11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18]
Revmoprobes are positive
A positive result indicates their growth. In this case, specific indicators depend on the type of research. For example, CRP values increase with the development of an acute inflammatory process in the body. In this case, an increase in streptococci indicates antistreptolizin.
It should be borne in mind that revmoproby can slightly increase after eating fatty, fried foods, after an intense load. Some indicators may remain elevated after an infectious disease, as well as in elderly people, which is associated with numerous changes occurring in the body.
Revmoprobes in children
Children also sometimes have to take rheumatic tests. Most often, such a need arises against the background of inflammatory and infectious diseases. If you suspect a streptococcal infection, you need antistreptolysin.
Numerous scientific studies have confirmed that in children of school age the level of antistreptolysin varies depending on many factors, even from the region of residence. So, in the USA, the norm is a standard of 240 U, while in India, Korea, these figures range from 240 to 330 units. Therefore the concept of norm in this case is very conditional. Even in fully healthy children, these rates can significantly exceed the "norm".
It should be borne in mind that even the presence of a high titer of antistreptolysin does not yet indicate the presence of the disease, since antibodies for a long time, and sometimes even for a lifetime, persist after a previous illness. Therefore, a high titer can indicate that the child has a stable immunity to streptococcal infection. After treatment, the highest antibody content is observed at 5-6 weeks, after which it slowly returns to normal. Recovery can occur from 1 month to several years and even more.
The level of seromucoids indicates the development of infection, including chickenpox, rubella, measles. This level is especially high in the first days of the disease. In newborns, in contrast to adults, CRP is not an indicator of infection. The level of protein may not increase even with the development of sepsis. The reason is the functional immaturity of the immune system, kidneys, liver and other systems.
The device for analysis
To carry out the research, a whole complex of high-quality laboratory equipment is required, which ensures the technology at each stage of the study. So, it is necessary to fully provide all the steps, from blood sampling and ending with the delivery of the result. The study is carried out by the turbo-metric method.
Raising and lowering of values
Since rheumatic tests are a complex analysis, in order to decipher it, you must first determine the baseline indicators that are included in this complex and determine the list of pathologies to which this or that deviation from the norm may indicate.
First determine the total protein. If it is elevated, it means that the pathological process takes place in the human body, the disease develops. But only on the basis of these data it is impossible to determine which pathology is present. Therefore, pay attention to the following indicators.
Albumin is a protein produced by the human liver. This protein is not considered separately, it is part of the fractions. Therefore, the diagnostic value is the ratio between these fractions.
A reduced content of protein fractions can be observed during pregnancy, breast-feeding, as well as many smokers. This pattern is often observed after prolonged fasting, frequent diets, with a lack of nutrients, especially proteins, and also with the use of hormonal contraceptives and other estrogen preparations.
Also, a decrease in albumin may indicate the development of various pathological conditions, such as bowel disease. It also happens as a result of internal injuries. Significantly reduced this indicator for malignant neoplasms, suppuration.
Rheumatoid factor are antibodies that occur only against a background of a disease. Most often it is rheumatoid arthritis. Always revealed in the case of autoimmune aggression of the body. It is an important indicator of the severity of the course of thyroiditis. It is on the basis of this indicator that a conclusion is made about whether the thyroid gland needs to be removed.
Antistreptolysin - O (ASLO) is an antibodies to streptococcus, which are formed in the human body after contact with the infection. Its increase indicates the development of the infectious pathology of streptococcal etiology and infectious-inflammatory processes of varying severity: ranging from mild to sepsis. Also, the change occurs against the background of angina, scarlet fever, kidney disease, liver, purulent-septic pathologies. Streptococcus can affect almost any organ. Previously, a fairly common disease was streptococcal endocarditis, but today this pathology is extremely rare. More often, with the help of rheumatic test for antistreptolysins, infectious glomerulonephritis is diagnosed.
CRP is found in inflammatory processes that occur in the acute phase. The increase in level indicates the development of oncological processes, be a harbinger of myocardial infarction. This protein reacts quickly to any tissue damage and stimulates the protective functions of the body. It should be taken into account that taking hormonal medications and contraceptives may also lead to an increase in the CRP titer.
Uric acid helps to eliminate excess nitrogen from the body. It is synthesized in the liver in the form of sodium salts and is contained in the blood plasma. It is excreted by the kidneys. An increase in rheumatic tests indicates the development of renal pathology. In addition, this indicates hyperuricemia, in which gout develops . The danger of this disease is that the salts of uric acid can crystallize and be deposited in various parts of the body, including bones, joints, muscles. Usually this leads to the development of arthritis. Lowering the level of uric acid can occur against the background of taking diuretics, and other medications.
Circulating immune complexes (CEC) are the main indicator of autoimmune aggression, and often indicates the development of inflammation of the autoimmune nature. There may be an increase in their level against a background of bacterial and viral infection, persistence of viruses, latent infection, allergic reaction. Elevated levels can also occur with more severe pathologies, such as oncological processes, rheumatism, fungal infections.
Each doctor has a table on the basis of which the data is interpreted. For each indicator and age, there are different evaluation criteria presented in the table below.
Index |
Normal value |
||
Children under 14 years old |
Adults |
Elderly people (over 60) |
|
Total protein, g / l |
46-76 |
65-85 |
63-83 |
Albumin, g / l |
38-54 |
35-50 |
34-48 |
Rheumatoid factor, IU / ml |
Up to 12,5 |
Up to 14 |
Up to 14 |
Antistreptolysin O, U / ml |
0-150 |
0-200 |
0-200 |
C-reactive protein, mg / l |
0-5 |
0-5 |
0-5 |
CEC, U / ml |
30-90 |
30-90 |
30-90 |
Uric acid, μmol / l |
80-362 |
140-480 |
150-480 |
Rheumatic tests with SLE
Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease. In this case, cells and tissues due to the pathological process, are perceived as alien. And the body begins to produce antibodies against them. Eventually, inflammation develops in those cells that have undergone autoimmune aggression.
The analysis will show the increased content of the total protein. But what kind of pathology is present in the body, is specified by other indicators. Most autoimmune diseases are diagnosed on the basis of increasing the level of the CEC (circulating immune complexes), which are a direct reflection of the state of the immune system.
Revmoprobes and vasculitis
Vasculitis is an inflammation in the vessels, which, like any other inflammation, can be easily detected with the help of rheumatrophy. In this case, the diagnostic value may have an increase in CRP-C-reactive protein, which is the main indicator of the inflammatory process. The finding suggests that the inflammation is in an acute stage. With this disease, autoimmune aggression develops against human blood vessels, as a result of which their permeability decreases significantly, they become brittle, bleeding, painful. Develops edema, a powerful hyperemia.
Revmoproby with a latent infection
With latent infection, the level of seromucoids increases, which are the first to respond to infection. Also significantly increases the level of C-reactive protein, since it is the main protein that provokes the production of antibodies in response to an infectious attack. If the level of streptococci significantly increases in the body, the level of antistreptolysin increases. At the same time, the main role in the detection of latent infection is allotted to CRP, which is attached to pathogenic microorganisms, making them more "noticeable" for the immune system, which triggers a complex of immune reactions aimed at eliminating the pathogen from the body. Then, directly in the inflammatory focus, CRP binds to the products of the decomposition of microorganisms, and protects it from negative effects. This leads to the activation of phagocytosis, as a result of which the pathogenic flora is absorbed and eliminated.
Despite the fact that the indicators of the norm are known, only the doctor can correctly interpret rheumatic tests, since not only quantitative indicators are important, but also their correlation. The clinical picture of pathology, the accompanying factors, the anamnesis is necessarily taken into account. If necessary, additional studies are scheduled.