Diagnosis

Early diagnosis - the key to success

Currently doctors rely on a range of signs and symptoms to make a firm diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. They conduct a physical examination, run laboratory tests and examine the patient’s history. However, by the time these signs are obvious many people are already losing mobility in their damaged joints. The ideal time for starting treatment may also have passed; the earlier treatment is started, the better the disease can be controlled.

Novel molecular diagnostics now offer a way out of this dilemma by speeding up effective diagnosis.

Roche is helping to transform the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis by providing a laboratory test for antibodies to cyclic citrullinated protein (anti-CCP) in blood. Anti-CCP is highly specific to rheumatoid arthritis, so it helps to confirm a diagnosis and can predict the eventual development of rheumatoid arthritis if the patient has arthritis.

Roche’s specialist tests arm doctors with information, enabling them to decide on the best treatment as quickly as possible