RA and Great Inflammatory Markers

[vnett]

How is it possible to have good blood tests results and still be diagnosed with RA? I started out with PMR in February 2018 and am now diagnosed with sero negative RA. My blood tests are always good. It’s very confusing!!

[nomoreheels]

Hiya Vicki, welcome to us here at HU NRAS. Well, the obvious answer would be that the meds you're prescribed are doing well at controlling you. That said blood tests aren't always a good indication or what's actually happening & I don’t think they should be relied on solely, I'm seropositive & can have good ESR/CRP results yet be flaring, they only form part of the picture you see. Those with a seronegative diagnosis don't have positive RF or Anti-CCP, antibodies found in the majority of RD diagnose, something you may wish to look into? My levels do rise from my norm but still remain in acceptable values, excepting for when I had a hiatus from meds, that time they were off the scale as it had been 3 months.

I'd ask your Rheumy, see what he thinks as we're all as individual as how we respond to meds.

I hope this helps & you find it helpful being here.

[vnett in reply to nomoreheels]

Thanks for reply! I have a great rheumatologist but have been frustrated by the additional meds she feels I need even as my tests seem so good. She definitely gives more credence to my symptoms and I know I should be grateful for that. She is keeping me on 3 mg prednisone started when diagnosed for PMR(still active), 20 mg Methotrexate weekly and now adding 200 mg hydroxychloroquine daily. And here I was thinking I was going to be off everything by now!! Oh well!

[helixhelix]

It’s not just about the blood. In fact the physical symptoms are much more important in making a diagnosis, especially if you have naturally low inflammation markers and are sero-negative.

However if you are unsure why your diagnosis was changed, or don’t feel it matches your symptoms, then do ask. Sometimes doctors go off down misleading paths.

[vnett in reply to helixhelix]

Thanks for reply! You just said exactly what my rheumy said to me!! I’m guessing I have some mental adjustments ahead of me!

[Pawz4me]

I'm sero positive but my inflammatory markers are always great, even when I was initially diagnosed and had 12 or so joints involved, redness and visible swelling, etc. There are several of us here who always have low inflammation markers. But like helixhelix said, if you don't think your diagnosis fits then push for more investigation.

[Katie-Mag in reply to Pawz4me]

I’m just the same Pawz. Good luck vnett, sounds like you’ve got a good rheumatologist!