I have had RA for 3 years now and until reading some of these posts never questioned the difference between sero-negative/positive. I am sero-postive, but what does that really mean vs. negative?I know that seropositive can have a poorer prognosis. I was seropositive
when I was diagnosed but last month, was seronegative. I'm not sure what
that means. My RD died in March, two weeks before my appt and my
internist has no idea why I converted back. I find the RF not a very reliable
indicator of this disease. Seems to me that the seronegatives on here are
having a harder time of it than the seropositives. I think the inflammatory
markers and xrays are a better indicator of how things are in our bodies.There's no such thing as a silly question if you really need the answer (I
don't have the answer, I just wanted to throw that in).
I don't have an answer either, but my blood tests have been showing two of the markers, ESR and CRP as very high for a year, indicating the possibility of bad inflammation - yet the clinical examination and my body both say the opposite. The rheumy has no explanation for this so I'll just keep going with MTX, pred and the occasional pain-killer.
It seems that the blood test markers are actually only a guide, what seems to count more is what the rheumy sees and feels when he/she examines your toe and finger joints - plus, of course, how much or little pain you're in.
As Gimpy said - 'there's no such thing as a silly question," to which I add, especially when it comes to RA. You are right to seek answers, the more we know about this disease the better we can handle it.
Cheers, - Des.
The rheumatoid factor is an antibody against part of the immune system. Approximately 70% of people with RA have this antibody and are called sero-positive, app 30% of people with RA do not have this anti body and are called sero-negative. About 20% of people who do not have RA are positive for the rheumatoid factor for no known reason. Also the rheumatoid factor can be positive in other disease such as hepatitis or other viral diseases.
Patients with JRA, PsA are generally sero negative. And while it is not written in stone patients who are sero positive tend to have more aggressive disease.
The rheumatoid factor is an indicator test only and its results positive or negative should not be used as a final say in the diagnosis of RA. It should be used to give the doctor a direction only. Once a diagnosis of RA has been confirmed or denied there is no reason to run the test again as it is not clinically significant in determining treatment success or failure.