Seropositivity

[CeeY]

My RF is 143. No question there! Everything else is normal except anti-CCP which is 17. My clinic uses 5 as the cutoff for anti-CCP and therefore I am positive. Most published things I've seen use 20. I'm in Canada but the 5 limit seems unique to the facility I am treated at. I will be asking about this at my upcoming appt but just wondered what is considered CCP+ where you are and what info you have received from your practitioners on this.

[RAexperiences]

Hi CeeY, I am in Canada too. I am seronegative RA. My anti ccp was at 10. The lab uses below 6 as normal. The assessor’s report of the blood test said it measured “a weak positive” and should be taken with prudence and retested in a month. My rheumi has called it a negative result and at other times positive so I’m as confused as you are! My RF was only at 10 but I may have been on steroids (for a brief period) already by then which could have affected the results. She now interchanges my diagnosis between seronegative RA and psoriatic arthritis (I’ve never had psoriasis). So needless to say I have been in full blown denial for around 12 years and cry every time I get a new drug (on methotrexate and humira). Totally unhelpful for u , I’m sure, but that’s how it goes! Canada developed some test (can’t remember the name) which tests for RA and mine read negative as well. A part of me would prefer good strong positive results so I can know I’m doing the right thing by being on these drugs. Best wishes! I’m in Vancouver fyi

[CeeY in reply to RAexperiences]

Nice to meet you! I'm in Toronto. My rheum called my 17 ccp "mildly positive". I'm on hydroxychloroquine with fairly good results and no side effects (diagnosed in January when I couldn't hold a cup or do up my bra and now I just have a bit of stiffness in the am and very occassionally some mild pain like a 1 or less) but they want to get more agressive with MTX, which I'm really hesitant about. I have mild symptoms and good quality of life. Hard to wrap my head around quite possibly taking a quality of life hit due to "nuisance side effects" and "lifestyle modifications" to get rid of the minor symptoms. I know its a long game, but that's quite a trade off at this point it seems (I know I could be lucky and have no side effects but the literature I've read seems to indicate about 70-80% do, so not that likely). I'm very curious about what my apparent "mild" seropositivity means for the long term and how to judge the risk v reward of various options.

[wishbone]

I'm seropositive but have never asked what my RF was/is. Suppose it must be fairly high as I've been told I have an agressive form of RA and I've no reason to doubt that with the mess my joints are in. I'm in quite a bit of almost constant pain, especially during this horrible hot weather we're having.

Apologies for the variety of fonts but can't be helped.

[dippyd09]

Hello, I live in Scotland and 32 years ago my rheum factor was given as a ratio 1:1750. I was told it was an aggressive positivity. I’ve tried since to find out exactly what it meant but can’t find it anywhere. My ESR was 107, no idea what my CRP was. There are so many ways to “read” these results. I’m not sure this is any help but I do find it interesting and very often frustrating. Take care all.

[CeeY in reply to dippyd09]

It really is difficult to navigate and interpret isn't it! I asked about my ccp yesterday at my appt. They explained that different labs have different processes and scales. They said my ccp at 17 is a very mild positive and that they have many patients well over 100. They said while it is technically predictive of more agressive disease and poorer prognosis in my case it is such a low positive that it is not really a significant factor. Which, while not a promise, was nice to hear at least. I've just been navigating this since the end of January so its all pretty confusing still. They did decide not to put me on MTX now (I suspect they may in the fall) because I'm doing better than I was at my last appt. So onward with my plaquenil and celebrex for now.

[JammieDodger3]

Hi, I’m seropositive. My RF was 150 and CCP greater than 600.

[CeeY in reply to JammieDodger3]

Oh my goodness. Wishing you the best on your journey.

[JammieDodger3 in reply to CeeY]

Thanks. I’m good at the mo, just over a year in. MTX is working well, so don’t have many issues really 😊

[CeeY in reply to JammieDodger3]

How have you found your tolerance of the MTX and the side effects, out of curiosity?

[JammieDodger3 in reply to CeeY]

Absolutely fine tbh. I had a few slightly tired afternoons the day after, but overall no problems. Started on 15mg tablets and now on 20mg tablets. I’m really glad it’s worked for me, as I know it doesn’t for everyone. I’m only one year in though, so don’t know whether things will change.

[CeeY]

Thanks for sharing! Because I feel so well generally I'm super nervous about MTX, which I'm pretty sure is ahead for me in the fall. Its always good to hear of someone who tolerates it well. Even the very official sources have mostly dark tales about this one!!