What Is Psoriatic Arthritis?
6. Diagnosis
There are no specific tests to diagnose psoriatic arthritis. Instead, it is based on a combination of clinical and radiological (medical imaging) criteria. Some of the tests that can be helpful to diagnose psoriatic arthritis include erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels as they increase when there is inflammation.
Rheumatoid factor and antinuclear antibodies may help to rule out other types of arthritic conditions. Other useful tests include levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA) in the blood and testing of intra-articular fluid (synovial fluid). Furthermore, imaging helps provide radiological features that can distinguish psoriatic arthritis from other forms of arthritis. Generally, X-rays, a computed tomography (CT) scan, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, and ultrasonography can be performed.
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