blood test negative for RA factor. Could I still have... - NRAS

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blood test negative for RA factor. Could I still have RA nonetheless?

tracyd59 profile image
37 Replies

Hi

I've been experiencing joint stiffness and neuropathy in hands, arms, legs, and feet since November '16. I had a blood test last week and it came back negative for Rheumatoid Factor. I also had the Anti-CCP test and that came back clear.

Could I still have RA though? And is neuropathy a symptom for some people? I also have Sjogren's Syndrome and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.

Thanks in advance for your comments.

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37 Replies
Simba1992 profile image
Simba1992

Probably not. The possitive CCP is the strongest indicator for RA.

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix

Both these tests are much more indicative if they are positive. For example, the anti-CCP is 90% reliable, so if you are positive there is a 90% chance you do have RA.

However, some 34% of people with RA are negative for anti-CCP so if you are negative then it means very little. The rheumatoid factor is even less sensitive. So sorry, you could still have RA. Being sero-negative for both does tend to make the path to diagnosis more complicated tho' as the doctors can only go on physical signs and symptoms, as well as inflammation levels.

Simba1992 profile image
Simba1992 in reply tohelixhelix

True, not so straight forward but if both markers negative and inflammation markers normal the probability of having RA at this point is still quite low. Tracyd59 has true enough not mentioned what her inflammation markers are🤔

tracyd59 profile image
tracyd59 in reply toSimba1992

hi Simba1992, what do you mean by 'inflammation markers ' please?

Simba1992 profile image
Simba1992 in reply totracyd59

CRP, sed rate.

Also important are you on antiinflammatory medication or immunosupressants?

Have you had US or MRI exams?

hawker955 profile image
hawker955 in reply totracyd59

Raised white cell count and raised globulin antibodies for starters.

Lucy11 profile image
Lucy11 in reply tohelixhelix

Hi Helixhelix.

This may or may not be of interest to you but I have found that there are different variations to the anti CCP test (for example anti CCP2) which indicates a 95-99% specificity to RA although sensitivity remains at 70-75%

I guess our hope remains that they find more biomarkers that can help diagnosis people who are sero negative and perhaps determine what treatment would respond best to the indicated blood markers. Am I dreaming that they are close to this?

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix in reply toLucy11

Yes, thanks

I was sero negative for over 20 years, then after treatment for BC suddenly changed to positive. Yes, it is possible to have RA with RF negative. It could change. xx

MickeyJoints profile image
MickeyJoints

I too am sero -ve. MY consultant says because I don't have Rh factor, it's an inflammatory arthritis. It could change I guess, but with out it +ve I'm not going to get much more intervention than what I'm on currently: HCQ & LEF.

I know there are guidelines to follow but I feel I'm in a treatment gap where MTX, HCQ & LEF aren't working but I can't go up higher due to the lack of Rh factor and hands that look fine. Apart from the OA nodules.

Time to look elsewhere for treatments, me thinks.

Marykate7 profile image
Marykate7 in reply toMickeyJoints

I know where your coming from, I hav OA as well and although just as painful it gets completely ignored.

Ouchy profile image
Ouchy in reply toMarykate7

This is so true. Nobody attends to the OA except for the occasional physiotherapist, but currently in much pain with the O A. Also I have a very low white count. Not sure that the Sulphasalazine is helping. I just got a referral from the hospital to see a haematologist. But my GP hasn't bothered to tell me she was doing that! I'd liked to have known and ask some questions. Feeling really very miserable right now. Have stopped the sulphasalazine as have awful sore throats and cold. HeAvens, I really need to get a grip. Meant to be going for blood test today but really don't feel well enough.

This website is a life saver. You can feel so on your own sometimes

Marykate7 profile image
Marykate7 in reply toOuchy

Yes you can but hang on in there x

hawker955 profile image
hawker955

Short answer: Yes. I was diagnosed as RA but have never been positive for rheumatoid factor. Otiginally I was told it was post-viral it clearly was not because I had not had a viral infection three months earlier like they suggested and eventually they changed the diagnosis. Post-viral should spontaneously disappear after a few months but mine was persistent and severe so am now on highly effective biologicals. for rheumatoid.

HTH?

Nettac profile image
Nettac

You can have a seronegative inflammatory arthritis. I have psoriatic arthritis. There are other types of seronegative arthritis.

It's a royal pain in the Harris getting diagnosed if seronegative for some reason. It took years for me. Then I had a knee operation and this seemed to trigger things further. My inflammation markers shot up.

Do you have any skin issues?

If you are in pain, and have swellings, its worth keep going back to docs. As others have said, things can change. I had swellings, stiffness and pain for a long time before inflammatory markers shot up.

in reply toNettac

Psoriatic Arthritis is indeed difficult to diagnose, so tracy, if you have any skin issues (or have had in the past) do flag them up to your doctor. Nail involvement (anything from 'weird' looking nails to nails falling off) is an even bigger indicator of psoriatic arthritis than skin psoriasis is. Additionally there are no specific blood tests for PsA, many folks don't even have raised inflammatory markers.

The focus on RA is a real pain in the harris to borrow Nettac's phrase. There are other kinds of inflammatory arthritis but some GPs just don't consider them.

If you haven't been referred to rheumatology yet then do ask for that.

JaydaChanti profile image
JaydaChanti in reply toNettac

Hey I just seen your comment. I wanted to ask how high your bloods shot up? My inflammatory bloods are high negative for RF and ccp and apparently not showing anything but I have stop symptoms for inflammatory arthritis or shall I say seronegitive. Sister had psoriasis cousin has crohns. Had rheumy appointment yesterday and he’s vile he said despite what two docs have said and my pain management consultant have said he is telling me as a rheumatologist there’s not one ounce of inflammation going on in my body. His words exactly, so my doc is referring me to a recommended rheumy who specialises in spondylo for second opinion. So just wanted to ask how high they shot up after knee op. Thanks

Jayda

JaydaChanti profile image
JaydaChanti in reply toJaydaChanti

Not showing anything on mri** but that’s common for me docs have had to go round the houses to diagnose me with a nerve condition as I’ve ever shown in scans it’s weird

Nettac profile image
Nettac in reply toJaydaChanti

My inflammatory markers went up to 75 (not high by some folks standards) however I may have had colitis at the same time.

When I became positive, I developed Vasculitis. Awful, very rare and very dangerous.

nomoreheels profile image
nomoreheels

We often collect autoimmune problems, you've already been diagnosed with two, Hashimoto's & Sjogren's. Seems you may also have seronegative rheumatoid too. Was it your GP who tested you & have you been referred to Rheumatology? Once you've been examined, had further blood tests & probably imaging done then you'll receive a diagnosis. It's not beyond the realms of possibility you've collected your third autoimmune disease I'm afraid.

This link explains seronegative & seropositive RD nras.org.uk/seropositive-se...

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix

Tonight I read an interesting (to me!) report on the way the Americans have changed the criteria for diagnosing RA.

"another consequence of the changed criteria is that the general concept of RA is shifting. Currently some clinicians or researchers consider the presence of autoantibodies the central hallmark of RA, rather than the clinical presentation.

In other words, some consider patients who have no ACPA/anti-CCP or no RF as not having RA. This underestimates the burden of seronegative RA, which is often recognised later and has been shown to be associated with greater unmet need of treatment than seropositive RA."

So yes, it's a real pain in the Harris being negative for these. Especially if you land up with a rheumatologist who doesn't believe sero-negative RA exists. So I reckon anyone who has that experience shouldn't hang around but find another rheumatologist ASAP.

Simba1992 profile image
Simba1992 in reply tohelixhelix

Sounds interesting! Do you have a link?

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix in reply toSimba1992

Links from this site don't seem to work. But it's MedPageToday and you just have to subscribe to the rheumatology alerts.

Simba1992 profile image
Simba1992 in reply tohelixhelix

Thanks😊

dwsurquhart profile image
dwsurquhart

My doctors have said i have seronegative rheumatoid arthritis as i too have a negative rheumatoid factor. I have also tested negative for lupus anticoagulant.

LJS13 profile image
LJS13

My blood test came back negative it took two years to diagnose me! And they only found out through an MMR scan.

JaydeeM profile image
JaydeeM

I have sero negative RA. It's doesn't mean anything. See a Rheumatologist.x

Caza profile image
Caza

My Rheumy treated my symptoms not my blood results, which have always been borderline, whatever that means. I did have X-rays MRI & US, although he had already put me on meds before the results came through.

Lucy11 profile image
Lucy11 in reply toCaza

Caza it's really nice to read that you were given Xrays, MRI's and Ultra sound as I have found that these are not routinely given. MRI's can be quite expensive to NHS and X-rays will not pick up on early bone erosions as well as MRI's. But ultra sounds can be a fantastic tool in detecting synovitis. My hand X-rays showed no bone erosions while my MRI clearly indicated knuckle erosions.

In addition, my inflammation markers were zero but ULtra sound indicated loads of synovitis.

Caza profile image
Caza in reply toLucy11

Mine to. Knowing what I know now, I had excellent treatment from the word go & my consultant never made me believe I was wasting his time or that it was all in my head,as others have been told on here.

Lucy11 profile image
Lucy11

This article may help you better understand sero negative RA. Keeping in mind that doctors may not be so quick to diagnose RA because often enough patients symptoms can change Indicating a different disease. I wish you the best of luck in finding a rheumatologist who keeps an eye on you and sorts it all out quickly.

rheumatoidarthritis.org/ra/...

Simba1992 profile image
Simba1992

More info on the importance of taking CCP test at first visit.

medpagetoday.com/resource-c...

TeamUp profile image
TeamUp

I just recently got told my blood test indicated I needed further testing and an appt with RA Dr. I had the CCP test and was told negative. My first blood test had 293 and was told RA normal range is 0-15. So I was way past normal. Two years prior I was at 256. I had a concern and a lot of jount pain. Many times I cannot grab a glass or steering wheel. The list goes on. Now I'm mad i wasted my time and money going for further testing. No one is saying anything about why my numbers could be so high. I have OA, but the tests were different for RA. Hmmmm

Simba1992 profile image
Simba1992 in reply toTeamUp

The high numbers you are indicating what do they stand for in your blood test?

TeamUp profile image
TeamUp in reply toSimba1992

Exvellent question Simba 1992. I'm not sure exactly what the numbers stand for. I was just told my numbers were very high and I can see that. I'll also have to check to see if is an indicator of something else I should know. I have another spot on 4/6.

Valdun profile image
Valdun

Sounds like you are in a bad situation! I have talked with other patients in the waiting room at my RA's office! That really must be a problem! Your other health issues doesn't make this any better for you! Keep a diary, take photos of any swelling or redness in your joints! A negative lab work does not necessarily mean there isn't a problem! In fact my blood levels where so high that my Rheumatologist told me that was good news and bad news! The bad news was I had this awful disease, the good news was the counts were high enough that he could justify starting out with meds that he would be reluctant to prescribe otherwise! He also told me that many people did not test positive even though their symptoms was very obvious! I hope your rheumatologist is that understanding! If he is not, seek a second opinion! Be sure to get copies of all lab and X-ray reports! Good Luck!

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