Keep up-to-date on the latestrheumatoid arthritis (RA)research with our brief research summaries.
Obesity May Affect RA Tests
Research has shown thatobesity can increase the risk of RAor worsen symptoms. A new study of more than 2,000 people with RA suggests it could also affect the results of tests used to measure RA inflammation.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania found a link between body mass index (BMI, a measure of body fat) and elevated results of two common tests – SED rate and C-reactive protein (CRP) – used in diagnosing RA and gauging its activity. Researchers say this association is related to fat mass and not RA disease activity. Doctors should consider a patient’s BMI when interpreting lab results.
Source: Arthritis Care & Research, published online April, 2017
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