Negative HLA-B27

[Monkey321]

Quick recap, Dr originally diagnosed me with PMR, put me on 30 mg prednisone 14 weeks ago. After no great improvement he advised me to taper off so am now reducing 1mg every 3 days, currently at 16 mg. Dr tested for HLA-B27 (possible AS or non seronegative spondylitis type but bloods showed up negative for HLA-B27. Got bloods done on thursday and my CRP is now at 2.0 but a month ago was 4.1 so has dropped. My ferritin a month ago was 20, now its 82. (Dr put me on iron pills which I've been taking the last month hence the increase). Question is: negative HLA-B27 is "good" in that unlikely to be AS but to me it's slightly frustrating as jone the wiser still. Got 1st appt with rheumatologist on August 7th so hoping he can shed some light.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It isn't a cast iron proof one way or the other - just another brick in a wall of evidence. When it is positive then you have a higher than average risk of the associated arthritides but being negative doesn't mean you can't have them. An MRI might make more sense.

[Monkey321 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you, another brick in the wall is a good way to look at it. It seems to be as many on here know that getting a "diagnosis" takes ages snd involves a raft of tests, elimination and uncertainties.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Monkey321]

I was said at one time that getting a diagnosis in autoimmune disease could take up to 10 years. It is better now in that there are tests that give faster answers - but the doctor you see has to get their brain in gear and know what to ask for!!

[Monkey321]

Thank you, very useful links there and your own experience too. I'm hoping the rheumatologist will know more than my Dr and will order more tests. I haven't had a MRI yet but they're very expensive here so not the 1st port of call. Time may tell also as you said you were later found with PMR tho not at first.

[Monkey321]

Thanks, that sounds very sore. Thankfully I have no eye issues. Last year for about 4-5 months I did have twitchy eyes on/off randomly which was really annoying. I put it down to stress and tiredness. I did tell the dr about it and he didn't seem to think it was important. I had eye exam last year too and that was "normal".