Arthritis Checkup Advanced near me in Visakhapatnam

The ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) test measures how fast red blood cells (erythrocytes) settle in a tube over one hour.

When your body is inflamed, certain proteins, mainly fibrinogen, increase in the blood. These proteins cause the red blood cells to stick together in stacks. These stacks settle faster, leading to a higher ESR.

The ESR test shows that inflammation is present. However, it cannot tell you exactly where the inflammation is or what is causing it. That’s why doctors usually do this test along with other tests. This helps them understand and treat your health problems.

What Do the Results Mean?

Pathological Factors 

The CBC (Complete Blood Count) test measures the number of red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets. Each of these blood cells performs essential functions–RBCs carry oxygen from your lungs to the various body parts, WBCs help fight infections and other diseases, and platelets help your blood to clot. Therefore, determining their levels can provide significant health information. A CBC test also determines the hemoglobin level, a protein in RBC that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of your body. Evaluating all these components together can provide important information about your overall health.

The CRP test measures the level of CRP protein in your blood. CRP is made by the liver when you have inflammation. Levels rise quickly if you have an infection, injury, or chronic autoimmune disease. The test shows how much inflammation is present, but does not identify its exact location or cause. It also helps track treatment and can assess heart disease risk with a sensitive test (hs-CRP).

What Do the Results Mean?

Pathological Factors 

Physiological Factors

🧒 Age: CRP levels can be slightly higher in older adults due to the natural process of aging.

🫄 Pregnancy: Mild elevation can be seen during pregnancy as a normal physiological response.

💊 Hormonal Influence: Use of oral contraceptives or hormone therapy may increase CRP levels.

Lifestyle Factors

🥗 Diet: High intake of processed or fatty foods may elevate CRP levels due to low-grade inflammation.

🚬 Smoking: Strongly linked with elevated CRP and increased cardiovascular risk.

😴 Sleep & Stress: Poor sleep and chronic stress can cause mild CRP elevation.

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance.

What Do Normal C-reactive Protein Levels Mean?

Normal CRP levels suggest little or no inflammation. In healthy adults, CRP is usually below 10 mg/L, showing low risk for inflammatory problems.

What Do High CRP Levels Mean?

High CRP means inflammation is present. Causes include infections, injuries, or chronic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or IBD. Mild increases occur with autoimmune diseases or heart attacks. Very high levels often point to bacterial infections.

What to Do if CRP Levels Are High?

If your CRP is high, consult your doctor to find the cause. Treatment focuses on managing the cause. It may include a healthy diet, exercise, quitting smoking, weight management, and medicine. Regular tests track treatment progress.

What Do Low CRP Levels Mean?

Low CRP shows little or no inflammation. It often indicates good health and a lower risk of heart disease or infection.

Can C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Results Be Inaccurate?

Yes. Sometimes. Infections, injuries, or medicines can affect test results. Rarely, lab errors or sample delays may impact accuracy. Doctors interpret CRP test results with other tests and symptoms.

What Factors Can Affect C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Results?

Although the CRP test is reliable, certain factors can influence the results:

• Use of medications like NSAIDs or statins 
• Recent illness or injury, infections, trauma, or surgery 
• Chronic conditions, ongoing inflammation from autoimmune diseases, obesity, or metabolic syndrome 
• Lack of exercise, poor sleep, stress, or an unhealthy diet
• Pregnancy or estrogen-containing medications (like birth control) 
• Old age and gender (women)

What Follow-Up Tests May Be Required?

Since the CRP test indicates inflammation but does not identify its cause, your doctor may order additional tests based on your symptoms and medical history to diagnose the underlying condition. These tests may include:

Table: Tests Commonly Ordered Alongside CRP (C-Reactive Protein), Quantitative

How Does the C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Test Differ from Other Blood Tests?

Standard CRP Test: Detects general inflammation in the body.

High-Sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) Test: Detects low levels of CRP linked to heart disease risk

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR): Measures slower changes, shows long-term inflammation

Autoimmune Tests: Detect specific antibodies that may cause inflammation.

Other Tests (e.g., complete blood count, liver/kidney function):  Checks infection and organ health contributing to inflammation.

The Rheumatoid Factor - Quantitative test detects and measures the concentration of rheumatoid factor (RF), an antibody produced by the immune system, in your blood. Increased levels of rheumatoid factor can be detected in the blood in certain autoimmune conditions, particularly rheumatoid arthritis. However, an RF test is not very specific as a rheumatoid factor can also be found in the body in diseases other than RA, such as Sjögren’s syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). RF may also be produced in the body during persistent bacterial and viral infections. Hence, clinical evaluation and other diagnostic tests are crucial for a comprehensive assessment and accurate diagnosis.

The Uric Acid, Serum test measures the amount of uric acid in your blood. Uric acid is a waste product formed when the body breaks down purines. Purines are the natural substances found in your body’s cells (DNA) and in certain foods like red meat or seafood. Under normal conditions, uric acid dissolves in the blood, passes through the kidneys, and is excreted in the urine. When this process doesn’t work properly, due to either increased production or reduced elimination, the uric acid can build up in the blood. This may indicate underlying health issues such as kidney dysfunction, gout, or the presence of kidney stones. In some cases, the exact reason for high uric acid levels is unclear. On the other hand, low uric acid levels are rarely a cause for concern. This test helps doctors understand if uric acid levels are within a healthy range and whether further evaluation or treatment is needed.

What Do the Results Mean?

Pathological Factors

Physiological Factors

🧒 Age: Uric acid level rises every 10 years in men. However, it only begins increasing after the age of 50 in women. 

🧑‍🦳 Gender: Men generally have higher uric acid levels than women.

🫄 Pregnancy: Uric acid levels tend to drop during early pregnancy due to hormonal changes. These levels return to normal as the pregnancy progresses.

🩸Menopause: Uric acid levels are higher after menopause due to low estrogen levels. 

Lifestyle Factors

🏃 Exercise: Weight loss and physical exercise lower uric acid levels. 

🥗 Diet: Eating purine-rich foods (such as alcohol, red meat, seafood, etc., and fructose- or sugar-containing beverages) increases the uric acid levels.

😟Stress: Stress can affect blood cortisol levels and thus uric acid concentrations.

💊Medications: Medicines, such as diuretics, immunosuppressants, chemotherapeutic agents, etc., can affect uric acid removal. Therefore, they increase uric acid levels.

Geographical Location: High-altitude regions, such as mountains, can also increase the uric acid production, raising its levels. 

Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance.

What Do Normal Uric Acid, Serum Levels Mean?

Normal uric acid levels suggest proper breakdown of purines and uric acid removal. It means your kidneys are working properly. It means that you have a low risk of other health problems like kidney stones, gout, or kidney problems.

What Do High Levels of Uric Acid, Serum Indicate?

High uric acid levels (hyperuricemia) indicate problems in uric acid synthesis or removal. This can happen due to kidney issues and can lead to gout and kidney stones. Also, these levels increase the chances of diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

What to Do if the Levels Are Higher Than Normal?

If your uric acid levels are higher than normal, it may indicate conditions such as gout, kidney disease, or metabolic disorders. Your doctor will evaluate your symptoms and may suggest lifestyle changes like reducing intake of purine-rich foods, limiting alcohol and sugary drinks, and staying well-hydrated to help flush out excess uric acid.

What Do Low Levels of Uric Acid, Serum Indicate?

Low uric acid levels (hypouricemia) result from increased uric acid removal from the body or decreased production of uric acid. It can occur due to certain medicines or health issues, such as problems in the kidneys, thyroid, or parathyroid glands. Generally, low uric acid levels do not show any symptoms. However, they are associated with muscle weakness, fatigue, and rare genetic disorders. Low uric acid levels are not very common and are often discovered incidentally during routine blood tests. Since low readings can have different causes, always consult a doctor to understand what they mean in your specific case.

Can Uric Acid, Serum Results Be Inaccurate?

Yes. Certain conditions can affect test accuracy. If your uric acid serum test results do not align with your symptoms or overall health, your doctor may recommend repeating the test or ordering additional investigations.

What Factors Can Affect Uric Acid, Serum Results?

Though it is a reliable test, several factors can influence the accuracy:

• Diet including purine-rich or fructose-containing foods
• Alcohol
• Certain medications, like diuretics or immunosuppressants 
• Pregnancy 
• Menopause
• Age
• Dehydration 
• Exercise
• Certain medical conditions, like kidney diseases or cancer

What Follow-Up Tests May Be Required?

Based on your uric acid results, your doctor may recommend additional tests to get a clearer picture of your health or to monitor possible complications. These may include kidney panels, cholesterol testing, or a CBC test.

Table: Tests Commonly Ordered Alongside Uric Acid, Serum: 

An Anti-Nuclear Antibody (ANA) by IFA - End Point Titer test checks for antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in your blood. These antibodies, different from typical ones that fight off invaders in the body, can attach to structures inside the body’s own cell nuclei. If ANAs are present in the blood, it may suggest that your immune system is overly sensitive, causing inflammation against your own tissues and possibly indicating autoimmune diseases. 

The Anti Streptolysin O Titer test measures the level of antibodies in the blood that target streptolysin O, a homogeneous exotoxin produced by the Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria. When the body is infected with this bacteria, it produces antibodies, including ASO, as part of the immune response to neutralize the toxin. The ASO titres quantifies the concentration of ASO antibodies in the bloodstream, signaling the body’s immune response to a recent or ongoing streptococcal infection. 

An abnormal or positive test result means you recently had a streptococcal infection, even if you had no symptoms. Additionally, monitoring ASO levels over time can help assess the efficacy of the treatment and detect any potential complication, such as rheumatic fever or acute glomerulonephritis which may arise as a result of streptococcal infection. Therefore, the Anti Streptolysin O Titer test plays an important role in diagnosing and managing streptococcal infections and associated conditions. 

The Anti-CCP Antibody test measures antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptides (CCP) in the blood. These antibodies are called Anti-CCP antibodies. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the body changes a protein building block called arginine into citrulline. The immune system may see these as threats and make antibodies against them. Anti-CCP antibodies are early markers of RA. They can cause long-term joint inflammation and damage. Their presence helps detect RA early, understand how it may progress, and plan proper treatment.

The C4 Complement test measures the complement protein C4 level in the blood, which is an important part of the immune system. C4 has an important role in the complement system that fights infections, triggers inflammation, and clears out damaged cells. By determining C4 levels in the blood, this test offers crucial insights into the activity and functionality of the complement system. Abnormal (lower or higher than healthy range) results may point toward autoimmune conditions, inflammatory diseases, or infections, helping doctors diagnose and monitor various health issues related to the immune system.

The C3 Complement test measures the level of complement protein C3 in the blood. By measuring the levels of C3, doctors can assess whether there is an abnormal immune response, indicating an autoimmune disorder or chronic inflammation. A low level of C3 can be a sign of conditions like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), where the body attacks its own tissues. On the contrary, a high C3 level might suggest an acute inflammatory response or infection. This test is often used alongside other diagnostic tests to get a comprehensive picture of the immune system’s health and function.