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
Antipsychotic TDM Assays
Saladax Antipsychotic Assays
Gel Cards
DG Gel Cards
8-Channel Pipette
SAPPHIRE 20–300 µL
Latest Immunology News
- Blood Test Tracks Treatment Resistance in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer
- Luminescent Probe Measures Immune Cell Activity in Real Time
- Blood-Based Immune Cell Signatures Could Guide Treatment Decisions for Critically Ill Patients
- Novel Tool Predicts Most Effective Multiple Sclerosis Medication for Patients
- Companion Diagnostic Test for CRC Patients Identifies Eligible Treatment Population
- Novel Tool Uses Deep Learning for Precision Cancer Therapy
- 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
Channels
Clinical Chemistry
view channel
VOCs Show Promise for Early Multi-Cancer Detection
Early cancer detection is critical to improving survival rates, but most current screening methods focus on individual cancer types and often involve invasive procedures. This makes it difficult to identify... Read more
Portable Raman Spectroscopy Offers Cost-Effective Kidney Disease Diagnosis at POC
Kidney disease is typically diagnosed through blood or urine tests, often when patients present with symptoms such as blood in urine, shortness of breath, or weight loss. While these tests are common,... Read more
Molecular Diagnostics
view channel
Interstitial Lung Disease Test Could Identify Patients Before Symptoms Appear
Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a group of chronic respiratory disorders that cause inflammation and scarring of lung tissue, often leading to irreversible damage and the need for lung transplants.... Read more
Genomic-First Approach Identifies Rare Genetic Disorders Earlier
Rare genetic disorders (RGDs) affect more than 24 million people in the US, yet many cases remain undiagnosed due to the limitations of traditional testing methods. Current diagnosis typically follows... Read more
Hematology
view channel
Viscoelastic Testing Could Improve Treatment of Maternal Hemorrhage
Postpartum hemorrhage, severe bleeding after childbirth, remains one of the leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide, yet many of these deaths are preventable. Standard care can be hindered by delays... Read more
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 moreMicrobiology
view channel
Fast Noninvasive Bedside Test Uses Sugar Fingerprint to Detect Fungal Infections
Candida bloodstream infections are a growing global health threat, causing an estimated 6 million cases and 3.8 million deaths annually. Hospitals are particularly vulnerable, as weakened patients after... Read more
Rapid Sepsis Diagnostic Device to Enable Personalized Critical Care for ICU Patients
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the body’s response to infection spirals out of control, damaging organs and leading to critical illness. Patients often arrive at intensive care... Read more
Pathology
view channel
New Imaging Tech to Improve Diagnosis and Treatment of Skin Cancers
Skin cancer is the most common malignancy worldwide, and accurately assessing tumor invasion or treatment response remains a major clinical challenge. Current imaging methods, such as confocal microscopy... Read more
Serially Testing Brain Tumor Samples Reveals Treatment Response in Glioblastoma Patients
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive form of brain cancer, known for rapid growth, recurrence, and resistance to treatment. Understanding how tumors respond to therapy remains challenging since imaging... Read more
High-Accuracy Tumor Detection Method Offers Real-Time Surgical Guidance
Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PNENs) are rare cancers that affect hormone-producing cells in the pancreas. Although uncommon, their incidence has been increasing, and surgery remains the only curative option.... Read more
Technology
view channel
AI Algorithm Assesses Progressive Decline in Kidney Function
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects more than 700 million people worldwide and remains a major global health challenge. The condition often progresses silently, and many patients remain undiagnosed until... Read more
Taste-Based Influenza Test Could Replace Nasal Swabs with Chewing Gum
Influenza is one of the most dangerous infectious diseases worldwide, claiming around half a million lives each year. What makes it particularly insidious is that flu viruses are contagious even before... Read more
3D Micro-Printed Sensors to Advance On-Chip Biosensing for Early Disease Detection
Early-stage disease diagnosis depends on the ability to detect biomarkers with exceptional sensitivity and precision. However, traditional biosensing technologies struggle with achieving this at the micro-scale,... Read more
Industry
view channel
Terumo BCT and Hemex Health Collaborate to Improve Access to Testing for Hemoglobin Disorders
Millions of people worldwide living with sickle cell disease and other hemoglobin disorders experience delayed diagnosis and limited access to effective care, particularly in regions where testing is scarce.... Read more
Revvity and Sanofi Collaborate on Program to Revolutionize Early Detection of Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a lifelong autoimmune condition in which the immune system destroys the pancreas’s insulin-producing beta cells, leading to dependence on insulin therapy. Early detection is critical... Read more
GSI Group Acquires Blood Processing Equipment Manufacturer GenesisBPS
Blood processing and storage are vital to healthcare and clinical practice, ensuring safe transfusions and cellular therapies. However, hospitals and laboratories worldwide face challenges in maintaining... Read more