Blood test could predict arthritis flare-ups

A blood test could reveal when a flare-up of rheumatoid arthritis is likely to occur, new research has suggested.

Scientists said a neverbefore-seen cell type could forewarn of rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

The presence of the cell dramatically increases in the bloodstream in the week leading up to a flareup, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggested.

Researchers said the cells could be used as a warning for oncoming pain.

Dr Robert Darnell, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator at the Rockefeller University in the US, said: “If we can reliably identify these new cells in patients, we may be able to tell them, ‘You’re about to have a flare’, so they can prepare themselves. This would make flares less disruptive and easier to manage.”

The study suggests the newly discovered cells may hold a key to understanding the root causes of rheumatoid arthritis – perhaps offering a way to prevent the flare-ups from taking place at all.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease of the immune system that causes inflammation in the joints, especially around the hands and feet.

It can be debilitating and frequently strikes people in their 30s or 40s. The symptoms come in waves. There is currently no cure.