Early Detection of RA

1. Early Detection of
Rheumatoid
Arthritis
By Aditya Kapadia

2. Introduction
RA can be extremely debilitating to patients, and being able to diagnose it
accurately earlier than normal would improve the quality of patients’ lives significantly.
They would experience much less pain and discomfort in their own bodies if they were
able to be treated ahead of time. Research indicates that some factors like small amounts
of swelling in joints as well as the presence of CVID in the blood, are some definite
elements of Rheumatoid Arthritis, but are not completely accurate. These two factors
could also be used in the identification of similar diseases like Osteoarthritis.

3. Discussion
A new type of test called a 99mTc3PRGD2 scintigraphy has been developed to more
accurately diagnose RA. This test detects RA by imaging synovial neoangiogenesis, which
is closely related to rheumatoid arthritis. Synovial neoangiogenesis is the process by which
new blood vessels grow from a pre-existing blood vessel. These new blood vessels can be
debilitating to the human body, as they cause inflammation of synovial tissue. A
99mTc3PRGD2 scintigraphy test directly looks for this synovial neoangiogenesis to prove
the existence of RA in a patient. Several studies have been conducted to determine the
effectiveness of a 99mTc3PRGD2 scintigraphy on rats.

4. Discussion cont.
One study utilized 140 different rats to determine the validity of a
99mTc3PRGD2 scintigraphy. Rheumatoid arthritis was simulated in 100 of the rats through
a type II collagen immunization. These rats, along with the forty control rats, were
observed every five days for thirty days. Using the 99mTc3PRGD2 scintigraphy, the
researchers were able to observe the development of synovial neoangiogenesis. They were
able to relate the presence of synovial neoangiogenesis to the presence of RA through X-
rays completed on the rats every five days. Through the testing of these rats, the
researchers concluded that a 99mTc3PRGD2 scintigraphy was a valid method of
diagnosing RA.

5. Conclusion
Rheumatoid arthritis can be detected through the use of an Anti-CCP antibody test,
as well as a 99mTc3PRGD2 scintigraphy. These two tests allow doctors to diagnose
patients earlier than they would be able to with X-rays and ultrasounds. Being diagnosed
early lets patients receive treatment that could be life-saving. This treatment could also let
a patient’s quality of life improve significantly.