Also, in some cases, people with autoimmune conditions have normal RF levels. RF is an autoantibody, which is a type of protein that the immune system produces. In people with autoimmune conditions, the immune system mistakes healthy cells for foreign bodies and typically creates higher levels of antibodies such as RF to attack these cells. Higher levels of RF in the body can indicate that there is some level of autoimmune activity happening, which can, in turn, point to the presence of an underlying condition.
The onset of rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune conditions , cancers, and bacterial infections can all affect RF levels. As a result, these levels may be difficult to assess in isolation. A review of rheumatoid arthritis biomarkers describes these figures as important diagnostic and prognostic information.
A high concentration of RF can be a sign of inflammation and autoimmune disruption. However, higher levels of RF can also occur in other conditions. Autoantibodies can also occur as part of the natural aging process. That said, if a person has unusually high RF levels and also experiences symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, it is likely they have rheumatoid arthritis. Very high levels can be more indicative of rheumatoid arthritis than lower levels, as this points to more activity in the immune system.
They then send the sample to a laboratory, where a technician measures the levels of RF. It may take several days for the results to come back. When they do come back, the doctor discusses the results and the next steps with the person. If a doctor suspects rheumatoid arthritis, they often order other blood tests alongside or after an RF test. These may include:. Learn more about blood tests for rheumatoid arthritis here. While high RF levels may indicate rheumatoid arthritis in many cases, this condition is not the only reason that a person might have high RF levels.
Anti-CCPs are antibodies also produced by the immune system. If the results of both tests are negative but a person is still showing other symptoms of arthritis, they may have seronegative arthritis. People with seronegative arthritis are typically at lower risk of serious disease progression and developing other complications. However, seronegative arthritis is still a serious condition that can require medical management and treatment. Autoantibodies in rheumatoid arthritis.
In: Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. Philadelphia, Pa. Accessed May 5, Rheumatoid factor. Lab Tests Online. American Association for Clinical Chemistry. Shmerling RH. Origin and utility of measurement of rheumatoid factor. Ferri FF. Rheumatoid arthritis. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor Related Juvenile idiopathic arthritis Psoriatic arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis.
This means that 69 percent of people with RA will be positive for rheumatoid factor. The sensitivity of the rheumatoid factor blood test is 85 percent, which means that 85 percent of the general population can be expected to test negative, but 15 percent might test positive even without having RA. The tests for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide anti-CCP , another kind of antibody, are a more specific alternative to rheumatoid factor, says Stuart D. Levels can also be elevated in viral hepatitis, such as hepatitis B.
If your RF levels are high, a doctor might lean more toward diagnosing RA, systemic lupus, and other associated diseases than ones not associated with RF levels. Learn more about seronegative arthritis here. Tested randomly, a positive RF result could sometimes show up in a person without arthritis or other autoimmune disease symptoms, but who has a family history of them, such as RA.
It also is more likely to be higher in healthy older patients. Get the latest arthritis news in your inbox. Sign up for CreakyJoints and hear about the latest research updates and medical news that could affect you.
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