Three rheumatism examinations to protect joint health

The three-item rheumatology test, also known as the three-item rheumatology test, is a routine blood test that is mainly used to assess joint health and assist in the diagnosis of rheumatic diseases. Rheumatic diseases are a class of chronic diseases that affect bones, muscles, joints and surrounding soft tissues, including rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, rheumatic heart disease, etc. The three-item rheumatology test provides doctors with valuable reference information by detecting specific substances in the blood, thereby assisting in the diagnosis of rheumatic diseases.

1. Inspection content

The three-item rheumatism examination mainly includes the following three items:

1. Rheumatoid factor (RF). Rheumatoid factor is an autoantibody whose elevated levels are often associated with rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Detection of rheumatoid factor can assist in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and assess its activity and treatment efficacy.

2. Antistreptolysin O (ASO). Antistreptolysin O is an antibody produced by the body after infection with group A hemolytic streptococci. Its elevated level usually indicates a recent streptococcal infection and is closely related to rheumatic heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases.

3. C-reactive protein (CRP). C-reactive protein is an acute phase protein, and its elevated level usually indicates inflammation or infection in the body. In rheumatic diseases, C-reactive protein can be used as an important indicator to assess disease activity and treatment efficacy.

2. Applicable population for inspection

The three-item rheumatism examination is suitable for the following people:

1. People with joint pain or swelling. Joint pain or swelling is a common symptom of rheumatic diseases. People with these symptoms should undergo three rheumatic tests to identify the cause.

2. Patients suspected of having rheumatic diseases. For people suspected of having rheumatic diseases, the three rheumatic tests can be used as a preliminary screening method.

3. People with a family history of rheumatic diseases. Rheumatic diseases tend to cluster in families. People with a family history should undergo three rheumatic tests regularly to monitor joint health.

4. People who are exposed to humid environment for a long time. Long-term exposure to humid environment may increase the risk of rheumatic diseases. This group of people should also undergo three rheumatic examinations regularly.

3. Precautions before inspection

Before conducting the three rheumatism examinations, you need to pay attention to the following points:

1. Diet adjustment. You should maintain a normal diet the day before the examination and avoid high-fat and high-protein foods to avoid affecting the results of related indicators.

2. Avoid strenuous exercise. Strenuous exercise may cause some of the three rheumatism indicators to increase, affecting the accuracy of the test results. Therefore, try to avoid strenuous exercise before the test.

3. Fasting test. Some of the three rheumatism examination items need to be done on an empty stomach to ensure the accuracy of the results. Usually, you need to not eat for at least 8 to 12 hours after dinner the day before.

4. Avoid taking drugs that affect the indicators. Some drugs may affect the levels of the three rheumatism indicators, so you should try to avoid taking these drugs before the examination. If you must take them, please inform your doctor in advance.

4. Inspection Process Analysis

The three-item rheumatology examination usually includes the following steps:

1. Registration and consultation. First, the patient needs to go to the relevant department of the hospital (such as rheumatology and immunology department) to register and consult the doctor about the three rheumatism examinations.

2. Issue a checklist. The doctor will decide whether three rheumatoid arthritis tests are necessary based on the patient's symptoms and medical history, and issue a corresponding checklist.

3. Payment and appointment. The patient takes the examination form to the cashier to pay the fee and make an appointment for the examination according to the hospital regulations.

4. Drawing blood samples: At the agreed time, the patient goes to the examination department (such as the laboratory) and a professional nurse draws a venous blood sample.

5. Sample testing. The blood samples will be sent to the laboratory for testing, including rheumatoid factor, antistreptolysin O and C-reactive protein.

6. Collect the report. After the test is completed, the patient can go to the hospital to collect the report at the designated time, or check the results online.

5. Interpretation of inspection results

The interpretation of the results of the three rheumatism examinations needs to be combined with the levels of specific indicators. Generally speaking, if a certain indicator is significantly higher than the normal range, it may indicate the risk of rheumatic disease. However, it should be noted that the three rheumatic indicators cannot completely determine the presence of rheumatic disease, and a comprehensive judgment needs to be made in combination with clinical manifestations and other examination results. Therefore, after receiving the report, patients should consult a doctor in time to understand their joint health status.

The three-item rheumatism examination is one of the important means to protect joint health. By understanding the relevant knowledge of the three-item rheumatism examination and actively cooperating with the doctor's treatment and advice, you can better maintain your joint health and enjoy a better life. At the same time, we should also pay attention to the joint health of people around us, especially the elderly, long-term fatigue and other high-risk groups, and encourage them to regularly undergo the three-item rheumatism examination to detect and prevent the occurrence of rheumatic diseases as early as possible.

Author: Li Na, Laboratory Department, Yulin Third People's Hospital