Been having symptoms for several months but doctors associated them to normal arthritis caused by years of playing sports. My main symptoms were sore wrists, feet, shoulders. Eventually after several tests incl xrays and hand MRI's and more blood work I tested positive for the CCP antibody. I understand that there might be a "window of opportunity" in which to treat this and possibly eliminate the disease all together - any truth to this? I am currently on 2nd week of methotrexate & I believe my Doctor will add either embrel, humira, or remicade in a few weeks if I'm not having any problems with methotrexate.
Q: Just tested positive for the CCP antibody but negative for RA. Should I have urgency for treatment?
Answers (3)
6/ 3/09 11:43pm
Hi,
I am sero negative RA myself. I tested positive for CCP and also on other tests as well as showing joint damage. You do want to start treatment as soon as possible to slow the damage. You may go into remission, it's different with everyone. I take Arava (chemo alt to Mtx) and am starting Humira. Hope it works for you!
Brad
6/ 4/09 12:55pm
About 20% of people with RA are what's called seronegative, which means they don't test positive for RA. You can read more about blood tests and what they mean here.
It is important to start treatment as soon as possible - the sooner you get on top of the disease, the greater the likelihood that your joints will be protected from damage and your life will be affected less. Unfortunately, there is no cure for RA at present, but there are excellent medications out there that have significantly changed the prognosis. If you have to have this disease, now is the time to have it - with the new meds like the Biologics (Enbrel, Humira, etc.) there is every chance that you will be able to lead a fairly normal life.
6/22/09 10:23pm
Hi
I also just tested positive for CCP but negative for everything else. What level was your CCP? It is hard to fathom taking such extreme medication when all I have is a little hand pain and a positive CCP. My doctor wants to start me on methotrexate soon. Right now I am only on Naproxen. Can you tell me how you are doing on the methotrexate? Any side effects? What dose did your doctor start you on? Are you taking it orally or injections? Thanks for answering my questions. You are the only person I have seen like me...positive CCP and negative everything else.
6/26/09 11:20am
I'm currently having no side effects while on methotrexate. Maybe a little fatigue the day after I take the pills but nothing besides that. Another potential side effect is liver intolerance. My first bloodwork came back fine so hopefully this will continue.
There is some research out there that states if you combat this with methotrexate in conjunction with remicade you might be able to stop it before it turns into full blown RA. I'll see if I can find the web site for you.
Two Sources:
1. Treat rheumatiod arthritis early by Denise Mann, WebMD health news
2. Dr. Paget , http://www.emaxhealth.com/97/20194.html
Best Wishes, Slick
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By slick— Last Modified: 12/24/10, First Published: 06/02/09
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Thanks for the reply Brad, best wishes to you through this process.
Rick