JamunJar: Health & Wealth for a better tomorrow

🔬 Inflammatory & Autoimmune Marker Panel

Test	Fasting Required	Type of Marker	Primary Use
CRP (C-reactive protein)	❌ Not required	Acute-phase protein	Detect inflammation/infection
ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)	❌ Not required	Non-specific inflammation	Monitor chronic inflammatory disease
RF (Rheumatoid Factor)	❌ Not required	Autoantibody	Diagnose rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
Anti-CCP	❌ Not required	Autoantibody	Highly specific test for RA
ANA (Antinuclear Antibody)	❌ Not required	Autoantibody	Diagnose SLE and other autoimmune disorders
Uric Acid	✅ Yes (8–10 hrs)	Metabolic product	Diagnose gout or kidney stones
ASO (Anti-streptolysin O)	❌ Not required	Antibody against streptolysin	Post-streptococcal conditions (e.g. rheumatic fever)

🧪 Detailed Explanation of Each Test

1. CRP (C-Reactive Protein)

🔥 Function: An acute-phase protein released by the liver in response to inflammation or infection.
📈 Elevated in:
- Infections (bacterial/viral)
- Autoimmune diseases (RA, lupus)
- Tissue injury (post-surgery, trauma)
🧪 High-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) used for cardiac risk assessment
✅ Useful for: Tracking disease activity (RA, IBD, infections)

2. ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate)

📍 Measures how quickly RBCs settle in a tube in 1 hour — faster = more inflammation
📈 Elevated in:
- Autoimmune diseases (RA, lupus, vasculitis)
- Infections, cancers
⚠️ Non-specific — always interpreted along with CRP and clinical symptoms
✅ Useful for: Long-term monitoring of inflammatory disorders

3. Rheumatoid Factor (RF)

🧪 Autoantibody targeting the Fc portion of IgG
📈 Positive in:
- 70–80% of RA patients
- Sometimes positive in Sjögren’s, lupus, or healthy elderly
⚠️ False positives possible — confirm with Anti-CCP
✅ Use in: Suspected RA + joint symptoms + swelling

4. Anti-CCP (Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibody)

5. ANA (Antinuclear Antibody)

🧪 Detects antibodies against cell nuclei
📈 Positive in:
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
- Sjögren's syndrome, scleroderma, mixed connective tissue disease
✅ Use as a screening test → reflex to ANA profile for specific autoantibodies (e.g., anti-dsDNA, anti-Smith)
⚠️ Can be positive in 10–20% healthy individuals at low titers

6. Uric Acid

7. ASO (Anti-Streptolysin O)

🧪 Antibody against Streptococcus pyogenes exotoxin
📈 Elevated after throat/skin infection by Streptococcus
✅ Use in:
- Post-streptococcal arthritis
- Rheumatic fever, glomerulonephritis
🧬 Often part of rheumatic workup in children

🧭 Interpretation & Use Cases

Condition	Key Positive Tests
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)	RF, Anti-CCP, ↑ CRP, ↑ ESR
Lupus (SLE)	ANA (high titer), ↓ complement, ↑ ESR
Gout	↑ Uric Acid (in serum or joint fluid)
Rheumatic Fever	↑ ASO, ↑ ESR, ↑ CRP
Vasculitis/Autoimmune overlap	ANA, CRP, ESR, (possible RF, Anti-CCP overlap)

🔗 Recommended Panels

Core Panel	Add-on Tests (if positive)
RF + Anti-CCP	ANA, CRP, ESR, X-ray of joints
ANA	ANA profile (anti-dsDNA, anti-Smith, anti-Ro, anti-La)
Uric Acid	Joint aspiration, Creatinine, Ultrasound of joints
ASO	CBC, ESR, CRP, Throat swab culture, ECG (for carditis)

✅ Summary Table

Test	Autoimmune?	Inflammation Marker?	Infectious Link?	Specificity
CRP	Indirect	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	Non-specific
ESR	Indirect	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	Non-specific
RF	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌	Moderate
Anti-CCP	✅ Yes	✅ Yes	❌	High for RA
ANA	✅ Yes	✅ Sometimes	❌	High for lupus
Uric Acid	❌	❌	❌	High for gout
ASO	✅ Post-infective	✅ Yes	✅ Streptococcus	High for strep

Arthiritis Profile