Q: DOES R/A HAVE TO BE ACTING UP TO SHOW ON LAB WORK
Betty...there are many people ( about 30% ) who are seronegative, and they never have a postive RF. Some don't even show high levels of inflammation. I am seronegative, but I do have high CRP readings ( C-reactive Protein ). Doctors have a hard time tracking inflammation in seronegative people for this very reason. They often ask patients to keep a journal of flares to help them get an idea of how active the disease is. That being said, those who are seropostive often have high readings when they are in a flare. Are you speaking of one particular test, or just the entire arthritis panel?
Best Wishes,
V
V gave you very good advice there. The only thing I can add is to tell you we have a great post on blood tests and lab results that can give you more information.
Are you asking this because you're having trouble with your doctor not believing your report of flares or just because you want to know more about lab results?
My daughter at 38 has Raynauds and some very mild joint symptoms but was diagnosed with RA based on RF and anti-CCP and inflammatory markers off the charts. She saw a rheumatologist and got a second opinion and both wanted to start DMARDs now. Both doctors felt that the bloodwork indicated early RA that had been caught before it really took off only because of the Raynauds. So my answer would be, no, it doesn't have to be active to show up on blood work. On the other hand, I was diagnosed just over a year ago and am seronegative - in all my bloodwork. Only some inflammatory markers are high. As a result, I had a hard time getting a diagnosis. The rheumatologist that finally diagnosed me finally shrugged his shoulders and said I may always be seronegative, some people are. A good rheumatologist will depend on a lot more than your bloodwork.
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