Can I still have rheumatoid arthritis with negative blood test?

Can I still have rheumatoid arthritis with negative blood test?

If these blood tests show negative results, X-rays and physical examinations are still performed, because seronegative RA could still be present. If X-ray results show inflamed or damaged joints, and a physical examination indicates numerous symptoms of RA, a person will be diagnosed with seronegative RA.

Can you have rheumatoid arthritis without a positive rheumatoid factor?

You can have RA without a positive RF result but its presence helps indicate the type of disease present in the body. Studies have shown that over 80\% of people with rheumatoid arthritis test positive for rheumatoid factor, which is called the positive (or seropositive) rheumatoid arthritis.

Is seronegative RA worse than seropositive?

For example, a Dutch study found that seronegative RA patients had significantly greater disease activity and worse functional ability than seropositive patients; on the other hand, seropositive patients had greater joint damage.

What happens when RA factor is negative?

If the result is above the normal level, it is positive. A low number (negative result) most often means you do not have rheumatoid arthritis or Sjögren syndrome. However, some people who do have these conditions still have a negative or low RF.

Is seronegative rheumatoid arthritis less severe?

Bottom line, according to MedPage: “RA patients classified as seronegative may indeed experience a level of disease activity that is as severe, or more severe, than patients who are seropositive, and thus may benefit from the type of aggressive treatment strategies that are more routinely used to treat seropositive …

Can you test positive for rheumatoid arthritis and not have it?

Since RA is an autoimmune disease, many people with RA have positive ANA tests. However, a positive test doesn’t mean you have RA. Many people have positive, low-level ANA tests without clinical evidence of RA.

What can mimic RA?

Diseases That Mimic Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Osteoarthritis.
• Psoriatic Arthritis.
• Viral Arthritis.
• Lyme Disease.
• Fibromyalgia.
• Lupus and Scleroderma.
• Gout.
• Reactive Arthritis.

Can fibromyalgia be mistaken for rheumatoid arthritis?

The diagnosis of fibromyalgia is made based on symptoms of chronic widespread pain and fatigue and signs of widespread tenderness. Many people have both rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia, but fibromyalgia does not cause rheumatoid arthritis or progress into it.