Hi ron54,
RA, Rheumatoid Factor, is an antibody found circulating in most
patients with rheumatoid arthritis. As many as 10% of the general
population has a higher than normal titer, with no apparent symptoms,
while 20% of patients that actually do have rheumatoid arthritis will
test negative! RA Factor antibodies do increase with advancing age as
well.
Simply put, an antibody is a blood protein that is produced to
protect the body from disease. When you get a vaccine, such as a flu
shot for example, small amounts of dead or attenuated (greatly
weakened) virus is introduced into the bloodstream. Even though the
virus may be dead or weak, the body recognizes it as a foreign object
and goes to work to seek and destroy! Specialized blood cells produce
the protein, the antibody, custom made to kill off that particular
virus. The antibody then circulates, protecting us from an attack of
flu! The formula for some antibodies is ?stored in memory?, conferring
lifelong immunity, while other antibodies are short-lived and protect
us just a short time.
In RA, for an unknown reason, the body begins to produce antibodies to
itself! Some studies have suggested that a viral infection may trigger
this response, and other studies have shown that patients with RA have
a genetic marker, called HLA-DR4, predisposing them to the disease.
When testing for rheumatoid arthritis, a panel of tests can be
ordered, the results of which will give the diagnosing doctor the
?Big picture?. This panel usually consists of a test for RA, a sed
rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and ANA (Anti-nuclear
antibodies). X-rays too may be ordered. Together, these test results
can better determine if you truly have rheumatoid arthritis, and if
not, they may suggest the presence a non-rheumatoid inflammatory
process. There are numerous other auto-immune disorders that can cause
an elevated RA factor.
?The presence of RF indicates that you may have rheumatoid arthritis
(RA). Positive RF test results are found in the majority of cases of
rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, more than 50% of patients with high
levels of RF in their blood have Sjögren?s syndrome. Many patients
with RA also have Sjögren?s syndrome. (Women more often have both of
these diseases. About two to three times as many women as men have RA,
and women have 90% of the cases of Sjögren?s syndrome.)
If you have a positive RF test result but do not have RA or Sjögren?s
syndrome, there may be another reason, such as endocarditis; systemic
lupus erythematosus (lupus); tuberculosis; syphilis; sarcoidosis;
cancer; viral infection; or disease of the liver, lung, or kidney. You
may also test positive if you have received skin or kidney grafts from
a person who does not have your identical genetic profile.?
http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/rheumatoid/test.html
RA does seem to pose a risk of heart disease. Researchers are finding
inflammation may be at the ?heart? of cardiovascular disease:
http://www.mydr.com.au/default.asp?article=3289
http://ard.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/annrheumdis;63/6/613
There are several different tests for RA Factor, and one commonly used
utilizes IgG antibody-coated latex beads (Agglutination test. This
test is inexpensive and easy to perform, but it yields a higher
number of false positives than other methods. You can ask your doctor
to order a more specific and quantitative test such as an RIA (Radio
immunoassay) or an ELISA (Enzyme linked immunoassay) for RA antibody.
Normal range for RA factor is 10 IU/ml or less, according to this Lab
Corp site. Keep in mind that each performing lab has it?s own set of
normal ranges. While most labs will have similar ranges, don?t compare
one lab?s results to another?s, or one method's results to another.
http://www.labcorp.com/datasets/labcorp/html/chapter/mono/se024700.htm
?Rheumatoid arthritis can have its onset overnight or over months.
Extra articular symptoms--primarily fatigue, muscle pain, and
paresthesias occur and may or may not persist after joint symptoms
start. Most important is that other connective tissue diseases may
mimic rheumatoid arthritis and need to be excluded?
http://www.med.ufl.edu/rheum/ra.html
?Symptoms include inflammation of joints, swelling, difficulty moving
and pain. Other symptoms include:
·Loss of appetite
·Fever
·Loss of energy
·Anemia
·Can affect other parts of the body.
Other features include lumps (rheumatoid nodules) under the skin in
areas subject to pressure (e.g., back of elbows).?
http://www.arthritis.org/conditions/DiseaseCenter/ra.asp
There you have it, ron54! I hope this answer has shed some light on
your worries. If your concerns are not adequately addressed by your
doctor, perhaps you might consider consulting a different physician.
If any part of my answer is unclear, please use the Request
Clarification button, before rating. This will allow me to assist you
further, if possible.
Regards,
crabcakes
Search Terms
RA Factor
Personal experience in health care |
Clarification of Answer by
crabcakes-ga
on
31 May 2004 15:41 PDT
Hi ron54,
It is natural to feel scared when you read about things that *could*
be, but please don't! Most of us have symptoms at any given time that
*could* be symptoms of *something*! A headache *could* be a brain
tumor, but 99.9% of the time, it is simply a temporary headache,
brought on by stress, caffeine withdrawal, or hunger.
You can ask your doctor to run the panel I listed above, that
includes another RA Factor test, a sed rate, a CRP, and an ANA. This
panel,and probably a CBC (Complete Blood Count), with a CMP
(Comprehensive Metabolic Panel), along with other tests your doctor
may deem necessary, can rule out some of the conditions that are
worrying you. Chances are good that this is nothing to worry about. If
your doctor feels you have nothing to worry about, it may be because
the doctor has already examined you and feels you are in good health,
and/or you have already had other tests that confirm this! If not,
make an appointment for a complete physical and have additional labs
drawn.
Again, discuss your concerns with the doctor, so you can put your mind to rest!
Sincerely,
crabcakes
Here is another link you may find useful:
http://www.hopkinsafter50.com/html/silos/arthritis/bsJHMT_rheumbloodtests.php
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