Final answer:
To determine the progression of rheumatoid arthritis, a nurse might prepare a client for diagnostic tests such as X-rays, MRIs, or arthrography, along with blood tests for RF, anti-CCP, CRP, and ESR.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a client has been living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for several years and needs to determine the progression of the disease, the nurse may prepare the client for several diagnostic tests. These could include imaging tests such as X-ray, MRI, or arthrography, and blood tests that measure levels of rheumatoid factor (RF), anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). While X-rays and MRIs can show joint damage, an arthrogram, which uses a contrast agent, is capable of visualizing early degenerative changes in joint cartilage before significant bone damage arises.
Rheumatologists can diagnose RA on the basis of symptoms such as joint inflammation and pain, X-ray and MRI imaging, and blood tests. They may prepare the client for an arthrogram, which is a type of medical imaging of joints that uses a contrast agent, such as a dye, that is opaque to X-rays. This allows the soft tissue structures of joints - such as cartilage, tendons, and ligaments - to be visualized. An arthrogram can help detect early degenerative changes in joint cartilage before bones become affected and help determine the progression of the disease.