Blood Test Question | Arthritis Information

Hey all,

I just got my blood test results back in the mail. I don't go back to the doctor until next Thursday and I have a question. But need to explain first.

Diagnosed with JRA about 10 years ago. Haven't seen a doctor since. Felt ok till college, still having pain, and went back to the odctor last week.

SO my blood work came back "good" with a negative rhumatoid factor. WHat does that mean? DOes that mean it's gone?

Also says:

Albumin 3.8

ALT 11

CBC-normal

AST 22

CRP .04

SED RATE 8

Do any more experienced people know what those mean? Really curious and happy to have good results. But are they "good" for normal blood or "good" for JRA blood?

Thanks! SO glad I found this site :)

Well, I am not an expert but if your Rheumatoid Factor is negative and your sedrate and CRP are low that is good news. How are you feeling??? Are you flaring?? I am glad you follow up with your doctor because they are the experts!!!

Connie

I feel really pretty crappy actually. My wrists and right knee have been flaring and I have been very tired. I am glad to hear that may be good news!

Never mind...just found this on the internet:

"There is also a test for rheumatoid factor, but that's positive only in one small subclass of patients. Ninety percent of kids with JRA have a negative rheumatoid factor, so we almost expect it to be negative. In fact, many times, if the pattern of the arthritis doesn't look like it's rheumatoid factor positive, the test isn't even done. "

Oh well :( Wishful thinking I guess

Christina, you have got to have some hope of some sort of remission, so don't feel bad that you were hoping and this time it was not completely fulfilled.

Hang in there and keep taking your meds...I think they may be helping some.

Yeah, unfortunately most JRA kids are sero-negative. My daughter is and so am I (I was diagnosed in my 20's). Do not give up hope tho. You went back to the doc early enough to hopefully get this flare under control pretty quickly. You may be able to get by with some prednisone to calm things down. If not, there are wonderful meds and some good alternative therapies out there now.

What are you taking now to try and control the swelling and pain? < =text/>_popupControl();

I am only taking motrin right now. I haven't taken anything since I was 13 (naproxen) My doc wants to put me on Humira, but I am very scared to go on it. I think that is a pretty big jump.