Is there a DNA / Blood test for RA Markers?

[V_afp]

Hello there -

My grandmother had crippling RA - her mother had it - her half sister had it and now my uncle has it - he is 76 now.

I have carried the fear that I will develop RA when I am older - I'm now 39 - I have regularly been tested by my GP for some inflammatory markers all of which have come back fine.

I have auto immune thyroid disease so didn't get away totally without developing an autoimmune disease.

Is there a DNA / Genetic marker / blood test and if so where can I get this done?

Is it the HLA-DBR1(??) test ? I keep being told a GP can do the HLA marker test but NHS won't.

Could somebody please advise??

Thank you so much!

Best

V

[helixhelix]

The HLA-B27 test might be the one you are thinking of? However this is linked to ankylosing spondylitis rather than RA, so less relevant to you.

The thing to consider is that none of the tests are 100%, either way. So you could test negative and there would still be a small chance that you could develop AS, and test positive and have a very small chance that you won’t develop it. And since it sounds as if you might be someone who does worry, then having the test will be of little use to you!

Personally I would think that instead the best thing might be to focus your worry & energy on minimising your risks. There is an increasing amount of research that says even with a genetic predisposition to get RA it still needs to be triggered or stimulated. Smoking and obesity do both seem to have a causal link with developing RA - particularly smoking. But also stress, gum disease and a rubbish diet that means your gut flora is poor can open the door to a higher risk of getting RA.

Also remember that treatments now bear no relation to what your grandmother might have had access to...and in another 10 years who knows they might even have found a cure.

So concentrate on living well now, and try not to worry about the future.

[Hidden in reply to helixhelix]

Totally agree hh very well put

[V_afp in reply to helixhelix]

Thank you so much that's a fantastic reply.

I have smoked in the past and I'm am stressed 24/7 with life and work stuff and financial problems. I am also a pianist/actress/ singer/ dancer so the thought of losing my mobility is always with me especially now my joints are stiffer than ever and I was counting on teaching when not actively performing. It would just be good to know if I had the Genes.

I dont eat gluten or dairy and I have cut out sugar and alcohol. But I could do better diet and exercise wise.

Thank you for such a positive reply xx

[V_afp in reply to helixhelix]

Thank you for the wonderful positive reply

I have smoked and am incredibly stressed and it's not a straight easy process to remove the stress from my life.

In fact I've been stressed my entire life!

I cut out gluten dairy and sugar and alcohol but could do better with diet and exercise

I worry because as a pianist/performer / actor / dancer who is getting stiffer all the time with age - I just dont know what I'd do to bring the money in if I couldn't work or teach.

It would help to know if I had the Genes

But I'm trying to look on the bright side and thank you all for the fab response

[helixhelix in reply to V_afp]

If you don’t use dairy I hope you are paying attention to your calcium intake? Apologies if teaching granny to suck eggs, but my (intelligent) niece ended up becoming ill when she turned vegan as she didn’t think hard enough about balancing her nutrients.

mayoclinic.org/boost-your-c...

Fish oil can also help bone and joint health to keep fingers supple.

Just a thought, but how about asking a friend without telling you which to put either “you are negative” or “you are positive” in a sealed envelope? Then wait a a few days and open it and try very hard to imagine how you would feel if this was a real test result. My feeling is that you would have a sense of achievement for about a day, and then would feel very little different from how you do now.

Unless it is something that you can take action on, like BRCA test, then gene tests are really not helpful.

[Stayloose]

I reckon some triggers are avoidable, but some aren't. Life happens. I would advocate that you live a healthy lifestyle, enjoy each today and resist trying to look into the future.

[Pulfs]

Try not to worry about things that haven't happened yet. My daughter lives in the USA where you can get tested for nearly everything ,she asked me about this and I told her my consultant said don't do it as if she had the markers she'd be worrying about every ache and pain. Also with RA these days they put you on a cocktail of drugs to help control it not like when I was diagnosed 25yrs ago, just had anti inflammatory meds for 6mths before having methotrexate and hydrochloquine .

Just try and enjoy life as it is now and not what or won't happen. Take care xx

[KittyJ]

Agree totally with what everyone else has been saying. How will it help you if you do have the genetic markers ? That doesn’t mean that you will get RA definitely and the same if you don’t have the markers that doesn’t mean you won’t get it. No one in my family has RA, yet I do. I wouldn’t worry about something that might or might not happen, live your life as healthily as you can. As Pulfs says treatment nowadays is far far better and quicker than it used to be so if you do develop symptoms the outlook is much better.