Guest guest Posted October 2, 2002 Report Share Posted October 2, 2002 My son has Fifth's Disease. WIth this Parvovirus it scares the you know what out of me that he could have rheumatoid arthritis. He developed Fifth's awhile ago and still goes through arthritis type syndromes off and on. I would hate for him to ever know the pain of constant RA...it breaks my heart to see him ache even a little. Shandi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 3, 2002 Report Share Posted October 3, 2002 I haven't had my son tested yet but I am about ready to put that proverbial foot down. I think doctors just don't like being TOLD what to do because I am lucky to have good insurance it tests would be covered without a fight. What hurt does it do to get those tests done just to be sure, especially with my history of RA. One thing he has working for him is he is a boy but knowing my luck he would be one of those rarer men that get it. He was to the point a week or so ago where he could hardly walk. He was limping badly...which is VERY unusually for my guy. Even when he has his minor flares he doesn't complain but that weekend he just sat and cried. I was told just to keep him comfortable and that either his Fifth's was flaring or he pulled a muscle. But he hadn't done anything that would warrant a pulled muscle. I am keeping my eye on it but next MINOR flare he is getting to the doctor and we are just going to have it out so I can breath easy! Shandi In a message dated 10/3/2002 12:15:37 AM Eastern Daylight Time, iamladybird@... writes: > Shandi: This is interesting to me as my sister-in-law > was a teacher and got parvo-B19 two years ago...now > she tests extremely high RF...she was so sick she had > to stop teaching, but they wont diagnose her as having > RA > they said all the RA tests are coming back positive > because of the virus...they also told her in children > it is uncommon for it to cause this , but adults do > get very sick....I will be interested in hearing what > happens with your son....and hope he doesnt ever have > to be told it is JRA....hugs kathi in OK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 3, 2002 Report Share Posted October 3, 2002 Kathi, According to this site, Fifths disease can trigger RA: http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic136.htm This site says patients may have a transiently elevated rheumatoid factor but does not cause joint destruction http://www.icondata.com/health/pedbase/files/FIFTHDIS.HTM The arthropathy is usually mild and transitory in children but may persist for several years in adults. In the acute stage it can mimic rheumatoid arthritis (RA). But unlike RA, it does not cause joint destruction. However, B19-induced arthropathy needs to be included in the differential diagnosis of joint pain since NSAIDS--the foundation of RA treatment--are contraindicated in patients whose joint symptoms are due to B19. http://www.mmhc.com/hcbd/articles/HCBD9801/Virus.html Antibodies to Parvovirus B19 non structural protein are associated with chronic but not acute arthritis following B19 infection. http://www.biotrin.ie/literature/Parvo/arthritis3.htm Does your sil have joint erosion Kathy? a > Shandi: This is interesting to me as my sister-in-law > was a teacher and got parvo-B19 two years ago...now > she tests extremely high RF...she was so sick she had > to stop teaching, but they wont diagnose her as having > RA > they said all the RA tests are coming back positive > because of the virus...they also told her in children > it is uncommon for it to cause this , but adults do > get very sick....I will be interested in hearing what > happens with your son....and hope he doesnt ever have > to be told it is JRA....hugs kathi in OK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 3, 2002 Report Share Posted October 3, 2002 I wondered the same thing, a. Since RF is not specific to RA, and, if there are no erosions, I can see why the docs are hesitant to give an RA diagnosis. Re: [ ] Parvovirus B19 Kathi, According to this site, Fifths disease can trigger RA: http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic136.htm This site says patients may have a transiently elevated rheumatoid factor but does not cause joint destruction http://www.icondata.com/health/pedbase/files/FIFTHDIS.HTM The arthropathy is usually mild and transitory in children but may persist for several years in adults. In the acute stage it can mimic rheumatoid arthritis (RA). But unlike RA, it does not cause joint destruction. However, B19-induced arthropathy needs to be included in the differential diagnosis of joint pain since NSAIDS--the foundation of RA treatment--are contraindicated in patients whose joint symptoms are due to B19. http://www.mmhc.com/hcbd/articles/HCBD9801/Virus.html Antibodies to Parvovirus B19 non structural protein are associated with chronic but not acute arthritis following B19 infection. http://www.biotrin.ie/literature/Parvo/arthritis3.htm Does your sil have joint erosion Kathy? a > Shandi: This is interesting to me as my sister-in-law > was a teacher and got parvo-B19 two years ago...now > she tests extremely high RF...she was so sick she had > to stop teaching, but they wont diagnose her as having > RA > they said all the RA tests are coming back positive > because of the virus...they also told her in children > it is uncommon for it to cause this , but adults do > get very sick....I will be interested in hearing what > happens with your son....and hope he doesnt ever have > to be told it is JRA....hugs kathi in OK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 4, 2002 Report Share Posted October 4, 2002 Kathi, I can understand your concern and frustration regarding the situation with your SIL. I saw a Manhattan rheumatologist, too. We'll have to compare notes privately on that one. If he diagnosed fibromyalgia, is there no obvious swelling of her joints? Were her labs normal then? Is she on any medication? How was your SIL's parvovirus B19 infection diagnosed initially? What is the lab cutoff for normal and how high is her RF? (RA test = RF test - same thing; remember that RF positivity can occur in situations other than RA.) Are any other labs abnormal? You are very right about the fact that destruction can occur silently in RA; however, right now the rheumatologists have to determine, if they accept that your SIL's problems began with a parvovirus B19 infection, what makes her case now RA not chronic parvovirus B19 infection. I think the PCP's suggestion about taking some MRIs of her hands and feet would be a good idea. Re: [ ] Parvovirus B19 > > > > Kathi, > > > > According to this site, Fifths disease can trigger > > RA: > > http://www.emedicine.com/derm/topic136.htm > > > > This site says patients may have a transiently > > elevated rheumatoid factor > > but does not cause joint destruction > > > http://www.icondata.com/health/pedbase/files/FIFTHDIS.HTM > > > > The arthropathy is usually mild and transitory in > > children but may persist > > for several years in adults. In the acute stage it > > can mimic rheumatoid > > arthritis (RA). But unlike RA, it does not cause > > joint destruction. However, > > B19-induced arthropathy needs to be included in the > > differential diagnosis > > of joint pain since NSAIDS--the foundation of RA > > treatment--are > > contraindicated in patients whose joint symptoms are > > due to B19. > > > http://www.mmhc.com/hcbd/articles/HCBD9801/Virus.html > > > > Antibodies to Parvovirus B19 non structural protein > > are associated with > > chronic but not acute arthritis following B19 > > infection. > > > http://www.biotrin.ie/literature/Parvo/arthritis3.htm > > > > Does your sil have joint erosion Kathy? > > > > a > > > > > > > > > Shandi: This is interesting to me as my > > sister-in-law > > > was a teacher and got parvo-B19 two years > > ago...now > > > she tests extremely high RF...she was so sick she > > had > > > to stop teaching, but they wont diagnose her as > > having > > > RA > > > they said all the RA tests are coming back > > positive > > > because of the virus...they also told her in > > children > > > it is uncommon for it to cause this , but adults > > do > > > get very sick....I will be interested in hearing > > what > > > happens with your son....and hope he doesnt ever > > have > > > to be told it is JRA....hugs kathi in OK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.