The nurse is caring for a patient being tested for rheumatoid arthritis. In reviewing laboratory values, which of the following would the nurse recognize as being diagnostic of rheumatoid arthritis?

a. C-reactive protein = 12 mg/L
b. Antinuclear antibody test is negative
c. Rheumatoid factor is negative
d. White blood cells = 6000/mm3


ANS: B
A normal C-reactive protein level is less than10 mg/L; an elevated level is present in rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Antinuclear antibody (ANA) and rheumatoid factor are positive in the presence of rheumatoid arthritis. This is a normal white blood cell (WBC) count, which measures immune function.

Nursing

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