The evaluation of rheumatoid arthritis begins with a history and physical exam.

Physical findings in someone with rheumatoid arthritis may include:

• Enlarged liver
• Enlarged spleen
• Joint redness
• Joint tenderness
• Joint swelling

Additional physical findings in someone with rheumatoid arthritis may include:

• Difficulty walking
• Deformed joints
• Rheumatoid nodules:
• Soft lumps beneath the skin that covers the joints
• Eye inflammation:
• Eye redness

Tests are necessary to make the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.

Tests that may be used to evaluate rheumatoid arthritis include:

• Anti-nuclear antibodies
• Anti-microsomal antibodies
• Anti-mitochondrial antibodies
• Antistreptolysin-O titer
• Complement titers
• Complete blood count
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
• HLA-B27
• Liver profile
• LE cell prep
• Kidney profile
• Rheumatoid factor
• Thyroglobulin antibodies

Additional tests that may be used to evaluate rheumatoid arthritis include:

• Arthrocentesis:
• Removal of joint fluid for analysis
• Bone x-rays:
• Normal
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Bone scan
• MRI scan