Blood Test Aids Early Detection of Rheumatoid Arthritis
|
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 09 Mar 2015 |
|
Image: Severe rheumatoid arthritis in a hand which was never treated (Photo courtesy of James Heilman, MD).
A blood test that measures the levels of a certain protein can be used in conjunction with clinical assessments to assist with the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is now available in North America.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that primarily affects joints and it may result in deformed and painful joints, which can lead to loss of function. The disease may also have signs and symptoms in organs other than joints.
The JOINTstat test (Augurex Life Science; Vancouver, BC, Canada) measures 14-3-3η (eta), a protein involved in joint damage that leads to debilitation in patients with RA, a disease that affects one out of every 100 Canadians. High levels of 14-3-3η protein indicate that the patient should be referred to a rheumatologist. JOINTstat has been evaluated in clinical studies in over 3,000 patients and has been available in the USA since late 2013.
Extracellular 14-3-3η protein is a potent ligand and activator of intracellular signaling pathways that lead to the upregulation of inflammation and joint damage factors involved in RA pathogenesis. A quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is used to assess 14-3-3η protein levels. Studies have shown that when the test is positive, greater than 0.19 ng/mL, it provides a 5 to 50 times greater likelihood of having RA versus non-RA. At high levels of greater than 80 ng/mL is an indicator of RA that will lead to more joint damage over three years and at lower levels of less than 0.4 ng/mL or negative in RA diagnosed patients indicates a higher likelihood of response to RA therapy.
Walter Maksymowych, MD, FRCPC, a professor in the department of medicine, division of rheumatology at the University of Alberta (Edmonton, AB, Canada) said, “When diagnosed early, rheumatoid arthritis can be better managed with drug therapies, resulting in better outcomes by limiting disease progression. Current diagnostic tests are limited in their ability to catch the disease early. With the availability of JOINTstat in Canada, physicians now have the opportunity to treat rheumatoid arthritis early, prior to the onset of significant joint damage. This represents an important milestone towards the goal of personalized medicine.” The study was presented at the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) Annual Scientific Meeting held February 4–7, 2015, in Québec City (QC, Canada).
Related Links:
Augurex Life Science
University of Alberta
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that primarily affects joints and it may result in deformed and painful joints, which can lead to loss of function. The disease may also have signs and symptoms in organs other than joints.
The JOINTstat test (Augurex Life Science; Vancouver, BC, Canada) measures 14-3-3η (eta), a protein involved in joint damage that leads to debilitation in patients with RA, a disease that affects one out of every 100 Canadians. High levels of 14-3-3η protein indicate that the patient should be referred to a rheumatologist. JOINTstat has been evaluated in clinical studies in over 3,000 patients and has been available in the USA since late 2013.
Extracellular 14-3-3η protein is a potent ligand and activator of intracellular signaling pathways that lead to the upregulation of inflammation and joint damage factors involved in RA pathogenesis. A quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is used to assess 14-3-3η protein levels. Studies have shown that when the test is positive, greater than 0.19 ng/mL, it provides a 5 to 50 times greater likelihood of having RA versus non-RA. At high levels of greater than 80 ng/mL is an indicator of RA that will lead to more joint damage over three years and at lower levels of less than 0.4 ng/mL or negative in RA diagnosed patients indicates a higher likelihood of response to RA therapy.
Walter Maksymowych, MD, FRCPC, a professor in the department of medicine, division of rheumatology at the University of Alberta (Edmonton, AB, Canada) said, “When diagnosed early, rheumatoid arthritis can be better managed with drug therapies, resulting in better outcomes by limiting disease progression. Current diagnostic tests are limited in their ability to catch the disease early. With the availability of JOINTstat in Canada, physicians now have the opportunity to treat rheumatoid arthritis early, prior to the onset of significant joint damage. This represents an important milestone towards the goal of personalized medicine.” The study was presented at the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) Annual Scientific Meeting held February 4–7, 2015, in Québec City (QC, Canada).
Related Links:
Augurex Life Science
University of Alberta
Gold Member
Blood Gas Analyzer
Stat Profile pHOx
Autoimmune Disease Diagnostic
Chorus ds-DNA-G
New
6 Part Hematology Analyzer with RET + IPF
Mispa HX 88
Latest Immunology News
- Companion Diagnostic Test Identifies HER2-Ultralow Breast Cancer and Biliary Tract Cancer Patients
- Novel Multiplex Assay Supports Diagnosis of Autoimmune Vasculitis
- Blood Test Predicts Immunotherapy Efficacy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
- Simple Genetic Testing Could Predict Treatment Success in Multiple Sclerosis Patients
- Novel Gene Signature Predicts Immunotherapy Response in Advanced Kidney Cancers
- New Technology Deciphers Immune Cell Communication to Predict Immunotherapy Response
- AI Model Accurately Predicts MSI Tumor and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Responsiveness
- Precision Tool Predicts Immunotherapy Treatment Failure in Melanoma Patients
- Paper-Based Device Accurately Detects Immune Defects in 10 Minutes
- New AI System Uncovers Hidden Cell Subtypes to Advance Cancer Immunotherapy
- Evolutionary Clinical Trial to Identify Novel Biomarker-Driven Therapies for Metastatic Breast Cancer
- Groundbreaking Lateral Flow Test Quantifies Nucleosomes in Whole Venous Blood in Minutes
- World’s First Clinical Test Predicts Best Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment
- Blood Test Detects Organ Rejection in Heart Transplant Patients
- Liquid Biopsy Approach to Transform Diagnosis, Monitoring and Treatment of Lung Cancer
- Computational Tool Exposes Hidden Cancer DNA Changes Influencing Treatment Resistance
Channels
Clinical Chemistry
view channel
Gold Nanoparticles to Improve Accuracy of Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis
Ovarian cancer is considered one of the deadliest cancers, in part because it rarely shows clear symptoms in its early stages, and diagnosis is often complex. Current approaches make it difficult to accurately... Read more
Simultaneous Cell Isolation Technology Improves Cancer Diagnostic Accuracy
Accurate cancer diagnosis remains a challenge, as liquid biopsy techniques often fail to capture the complexity of tumor biology. Traditional systems for isolating circulating tumor cells (CTCs) vary in... Read more
Molecular Diagnostics
view channel
Brain Inflammation Biomarker Detects Alzheimer’s Years Before Symptoms Appear
Alzheimer’s disease affects millions globally, but patients are often diagnosed only after memory loss and other symptoms appear, when brain damage is already extensive. Detecting the disease much earlier... Read more
First-of-Its-Kind Blood Test Detects Over 50 Cancer Types
Many cancers lack routine screening, so patients are often diagnosed only after tumors grow and spread, when options are limited. A faster, less invasive approach that broadens early detection could shift... Read more
Routine Blood Draws Could Detect Epigenetic Biomarkers for Predicting Cardiovascular Disease Risk
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death worldwide, yet predicting individual risk remains a persistent challenge. Traditional risk factors, while useful, do not fully capture biological changes... Read more
Hematology
view channel
Pioneering Model Measures Radiation Exposure in Blood for Precise Cancer Treatments
Scientists have long focused on protecting organs near tumors during radiotherapy, but blood — a vital, circulating tissue — has largely been excluded from dose calculations. Each blood cell passing through... Read more
Platelets Could Improve Early and Minimally Invasive Detection of Cancer
Platelets are widely recognized for their role in blood clotting and scab formation, but they also play a crucial role in immune defense by detecting pathogens and recruiting immune cells.... Read more
Portable and Disposable Device Obtains Platelet-Rich Plasma Without Complex Equipment
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) plays a crucial role in regenerative medicine due to its ability to accelerate healing and repair tissue. However, obtaining PRP traditionally requires expensive centrifugation... Read more
Microbiology
view channel
Microfluidic Platform Assesses Neutrophil Function in Sepsis Patients
Sepsis arises from infection and immune dysregulation, with neutrophils playing a central role in its progression. However, current clinical tools are unable to both isolate these cells and assess their... Read more
New Diagnostic Method Confirms Sepsis Infections Earlier
Sepsis remains one of the most dangerous medical emergencies, often progressing rapidly and becoming fatal without timely intervention. Each hour of delayed treatment in septic shock reduces patient survival... Read more
New Markers Could Predict Risk of Severe Chlamydia Infection
Chlamydia trachomatis is a common sexually transmitted infection that can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and other reproductive complications when it spreads to the upper genital tract.... Read more
Portable Spectroscopy Rapidly and Noninvasively Detects Bacterial Species in Vaginal Fluid
Vaginal health depends on maintaining a balanced microbiome, particularly certain Lactobacillus species. Disruption of this balance, known as dysbiosis, can increase risks of infection, pregnancy complications,... Read morePathology
view channel
Accurate Pathological Analysis Improves Treatment Outcomes for Adult Fibrosarcoma
Adult fibrosarcoma is a rare and highly aggressive malignancy that develops in connective tissue and often affects the limbs, trunk, or head and neck region. Diagnosis is complex because tumors can mimic... Read more
Clinicopathologic Study Supports Exclusion of Cervical Serous Carcinoma from WHO Classification
High-grade serous carcinoma is a rare diagnosis in cervical biopsies and can be difficult to distinguish from other tumor types. Cervical serous carcinoma is no longer recognized as a primary cervical... Read more
Technology
view channel
Coral-Inspired Capsule Samples Hidden Bacteria from Small Intestine
The gut microbiome has been linked to conditions ranging from immune disorders to mental health, yet conventional stool tests often fail to capture bacterial populations in the small intestine.... Read more
Rapid Diagnostic Technology Utilizes Breath Samples to Detect Lower Respiratory Tract Infections
Respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are leading causes of illness and death worldwide, particularly among vulnerable populations such as the elderly, young children, and those with compromised immune systems.... Read more
Industry
view channel
Werfen and VolitionRx Partner to Advance Diagnostic Testing for Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a rare autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to produce abnormal antibodies, making the blood “stickier” than normal. This condition increases the risk of... Read more
