question about rheumatoid factor

[Guest guest]

Hi,

If rheumatoid factor does not reflect disease activity, how do you know if the

meds are

working? Just subjective reporting? The swelling in my fingers is super

subtle, most

people would not even see it.

I have the impression that most people here are not fans of minocycline therapy.

I feel like

I'm between a rock and a hard place with med options. First because I have

chronic kidney

disease and secondly because I work on an airplane. If you don't already know,

they are

one of the most infectious places on earth.

The rheummy I saw last week had put one lady with Scleroderma into remission

with

minocycline. Not sure if she is still in remission. My RA really kicked in

after my hip

replacement surgery. I guess any major biologic event could push flush it out.

My internist, whom I love and adore, told me not to go on mtx yet. He still

thinks there is

a chance it could be fibro. My RF is a few points above normal but I am waking

up with

stiff hands. On the other hand, my RF was a few points above normal 5 years ago

and I

have not been on any meds and have no visible damage on x-ray other than osteo-

arthritis.

Is it possible to RA for 5 years and not have any x-ray changes? I know y'all

are not

doctors but I find that patients with the disease often are just as informed.

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

I, too would like to understand the Rheumatoid Factor and how it does or does

not relate to having RA. My number has stayed the same for 5 years or so, my

x-rays results have not changed however, I have all of the classic symptoms,

pain, inflamation, etc. Just to look at me, you wouldn't think anything was

wrong with me. Maybe someone can help us understand! Thanks!

D.

savannahhipchick <lfriedman5@...> wrote:

Hi,

If rheumatoid factor does not reflect disease activity, how do you know if the

meds are

working? Just subjective reporting? The swelling in my fingers is super subtle,

most

people would not even see it.

I have the impression that most people here are not fans of minocycline therapy.

I feel like

I'm between a rock and a hard place with med options. First because I have

chronic kidney

disease and secondly because I work on an airplane. If you don't already know,

they are

one of the most infectious places on earth.

The rheummy I saw last week had put one lady with Scleroderma into remission

with

minocycline. Not sure if she is still in remission. My RA really kicked in after

my hip

replacement surgery. I guess any major biologic event could push flush it out.

My internist, whom I love and adore, told me not to go on mtx yet. He still

thinks there is

a chance it could be fibro. My RF is a few points above normal but I am waking

up with

stiff hands. On the other hand, my RF was a few points above normal 5 years ago

and I

have not been on any meds and have no visible damage on x-ray other than osteo-

arthritis.

Is it possible to RA for 5 years and not have any x-ray changes? I know y'all

are not

doctors but I find that patients with the disease often are just as informed.

Thanks,

ltdavis_jrdavis@...

---------------------------------

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[Guest guest]

and ,

The diagnosis of RA is largely a clinical one.

Unfortunately, rheumatoid factor (RF) production is not unique to RA,

so a positive RF does not necessarily indicate RA. Borderline values

of RF are less likely to be meaningful than very high titers.

Additionally, a significant percentage (around 20%) of people who

receive an RA diagnosis never have a positive RF.

In the last few years, several anti-CCP tests have been shown to be

more specific to RA than RF.

Currently, various lab results can offer important clues, but can't be

used in isolation to rule RA in or out.

It's possible to have no x-ray changes in five years and still have

RA, but, if you've never been on any DMARDs and never had any profound

swelling and stiffness (duration of over one hour), I would question

the diagnosis.

Not an MD

On Feb 2, 2008 8:38 AM, <ltdavis_jrdavis@...> wrote:

> I, too would like to understand the Rheumatoid Factor and how it does or does

not relate to having RA. My number has stayed the same for 5 years or so, my

x-rays results have not changed however, I have all of the classic symptoms,

pain, inflamation, etc. Just to look at me, you wouldn't think anything was

wrong with me. Maybe someone can help us understand! Thanks!

> D.

>

> savannahhipchick <lfriedman5@...> wrote:

> Hi,

>

> If rheumatoid factor does not reflect disease activity, how do you know if the

meds are

> working? Just subjective reporting? The swelling in my fingers is super

subtle, most

> people would not even see it.

>

> I have the impression that most people here are not fans of minocycline

therapy. I feel like

> I'm between a rock and a hard place with med options. First because I have

chronic kidney

> disease and secondly because I work on an airplane. If you don't already know,

they are

> one of the most infectious places on earth.

>

> The rheummy I saw last week had put one lady with Scleroderma into remission

with

> minocycline. Not sure if she is still in remission. My RA really kicked in

after my hip

> replacement surgery. I guess any major biologic event could push flush it out.

>

> My internist, whom I love and adore, told me not to go on mtx yet. He still

thinks there is

> a chance it could be fibro. My RF is a few points above normal but I am waking

up with

> stiff hands. On the other hand, my RF was a few points above normal 5 years

ago and I

> have not been on any meds and have no visible damage on x-ray other than

osteo-

> arthritis.

>

> Is it possible to RA for 5 years and not have any x-ray changes? I know y'all

are not

> doctors but I find that patients with the disease often are just as informed.

>

> Thanks,

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

My RA does not show up in blood work but it shows in MRI's.I take MTX and

Enbrel they seem to help some

Heidi M

On Feb 2, 2008 10:12 AM, <Rheumatoid.Arthritis.Support@...>

wrote:

> and ,

>

> The diagnosis of RA is largely a clinical one.

>

> Unfortunately, rheumatoid factor (RF) production is not unique to RA,

> so a positive RF does not necessarily indicate RA. Borderline values

> of RF are less likely to be meaningful than very high titers.

> Additionally, a significant percentage (around 20%) of people who

> receive an RA diagnosis never have a positive RF.

>

> In the last few years, several anti-CCP tests have been shown to be

> more specific to RA than RF.

>

> Currently, various lab results can offer important clues, but can't be

> used in isolation to rule RA in or out.

>

> It's possible to have no x-ray changes in five years and still have

> RA, but, if you've never been on any DMARDs and never had any profound

> swelling and stiffness (duration of over one hour), I would question

> the diagnosis.

>

>

> Not an MD

>

> On Feb 2, 2008 8:38 AM,

<ltdavis_jrdavis@...<ltdavis_jrdavis%40>>

> wrote:

> > I, too would like to understand the Rheumatoid Factor and how it does or

> does not relate to having RA. My number has stayed the same for 5 years or

> so, my x-rays results have not changed however, I have all of the classic

> symptoms, pain, inflamation, etc. Just to look at me, you wouldn't think

> anything was wrong with me. Maybe someone can help us understand! Thanks!

> > D.

> >

> > savannahhipchick <lfriedman5@... <lfriedman5%40comcast.net>>

> wrote:

> > Hi,

> >

> > If rheumatoid factor does not reflect disease activity, how do you know

> if the meds are

> > working? Just subjective reporting? The swelling in my fingers is super

> subtle, most

> > people would not even see it.

> >

> > I have the impression that most people here are not fans of minocycline

> therapy. I feel like

> > I'm between a rock and a hard place with med options. First because I

> have chronic kidney

> > disease and secondly because I work on an airplane. If you don't already

> know, they are

> > one of the most infectious places on earth.

> >

> > The rheummy I saw last week had put one lady with Scleroderma into

> remission with

> > minocycline. Not sure if she is still in remission. My RA really kicked

> in after my hip

> > replacement surgery. I guess any major biologic event could push flush

> it out.

> >

> > My internist, whom I love and adore, told me not to go on mtx yet. He

> still thinks there is

> > a chance it could be fibro. My RF is a few points above normal but I am

> waking up with

> > stiff hands. On the other hand, my RF was a few points above normal 5

> years ago and I

> > have not been on any meds and have no visible damage on x-ray other than

> osteo-

> > arthritis.

> >

> > Is it possible to RA for 5 years and not have any x-ray changes? I know

> y'all are not

> > doctors but I find that patients with the disease often are just as

> informed.

> >

> > Thanks,

> >

> >

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Heidi,

Then I guess my orthos should have been ordering some MRIs. They never hesitate

to

order radiographs. Over and over again. Thanks for the tip.

> > > Hi,

> > >

> > > If rheumatoid factor does not reflect disease activity, how do you know

> > if the meds are

> > > working? Just subjective reporting? The swelling in my fingers is super

> > subtle, most

> > > people would not even see it.

> > >

> > > I have the impression that most people here are not fans of minocycline

> > therapy. I feel like

> > > I'm between a rock and a hard place with med options. First because I

> > have chronic kidney

> > > disease and secondly because I work on an airplane. If you don't already

> > know, they are

> > > one of the most infectious places on earth.

> > >

> > > The rheummy I saw last week had put one lady with Scleroderma into

> > remission with

> > > minocycline. Not sure if she is still in remission. My RA really kicked

> > in after my hip

> > > replacement surgery. I guess any major biologic event could push flush

> > it out.

> > >

> > > My internist, whom I love and adore, told me not to go on mtx yet. He

> > still thinks there is

> > > a chance it could be fibro. My RF is a few points above normal but I am

> > waking up with

> > > stiff hands. On the other hand, my RF was a few points above normal 5

> > years ago and I

> > > have not been on any meds and have no visible damage on x-ray other than

> > osteo-

> > > arthritis.

> > >

> > > Is it possible to RA for 5 years and not have any x-ray changes? I know

> > y'all are not

> > > doctors but I find that patients with the disease often are just as

> > informed.

> > >

> > > Thanks,

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

--- In , " savannahhipchick " <lfriedman5@...>

wrote:

>

> Heidi,

>

> Then I guess my orthos should have been ordering some MRIs. They

never hesitate to

> order radiographs. Over and over again. Thanks for the tip.

>

>

In several different books, I have read that an MRI will show RA damage

7 times sooner than X-rays. Thought that was interesting...