Blood tests results

marie48
marie48 Member Posts: 189
edited 5. Dec 2011, 03:27 in Living with Arthritis archive
Got results of blood tests. GP said it shows I have got inflammation in my blood but she canot tell whether it is rheumatoid arthritis the level is a bit high, it shows I have got arthritis. I am confused I thought the blood test should be able to tell. MY results are:- "Rheumatoid Factor" <20.0 iul/ml (<40.0). will be filed as: 43F..00 Rheumatoid factor 20 iu/ml.. Does this make sense to anybody and explain to me what it means! GP sent me fo X-Ray of the knees as they are grinding a lot bone to bone, but not painful just uncomfortable. She said by the results she will decide whether to send me to see Rheumatologist or Orthopaedic surgeon. I have got generalised arthritis and it is spreading, but GP said they cannot do much for the jaw. Any advice pl. Thanks

Comments

  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I have no idea what the blood results mean as I don't speak Doctor, but I think it shows a raised inflammation level, which surely means an inflammatory arthritis, so it should be off to a rheumatologist you go. I think rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed via the sero- positive presence of the RF (rheumatoid factor) but there are sero-negative versions: I have one of those, psoriatic arthritis. By generalised arthritis do you mean OA? I too have that, in my knees and I think also my ankles, thanks to the damage that the PA has done, and it bl**dy hurts, it's worse than the PA pain. :sad: Let us know what you discover, yes? I wish you well. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,838
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Marie

    I think that positive RF is above 20 or something (probably memory not right anyway :oops: ).....maybe the Gp could do some other diagnostic tests to help rule RA in or out???

    Mind remember a fair few inflammtory arthritis-es are negative for Rfactor.

    Such a worry when you are in pain and can't get a definitive answer isn't it :???:

    My only advice - don't give up and be assertive. Careful questioning like "how do we find out...?" Might put the ball in his court??

    Love

    Toni xx
  • pinkbritishstars
    pinkbritishstars Member Posts: 731
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I agree with Toni, don't give up

    Sending you lots of hugs xxx
  • sciqueen
    sciqueen Member Posts: 21
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi

    It sounds as you sero positive. 20 and under is considered normal. Yours is higher, so I think you have ra. Mine on diagnosis was 40.

    Most ra present in hands, that's where they get it worse & other joints. Morning stiffness lasting more than an hour - 2 hour is typical plus swelling. These are the normal diagnosis for ra.

    If you have the above it's ra, if not then it may be a different inflammatory disease. But I would bet it's an inflammatory form arthritis.

    Hope that helps

    Sci x
  • julie47
    julie47 Member Posts: 6,041
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi

    Blood test results baffle me too :???:

    Hope the xrays help and that you are sent to the right specialist soon.

    Take care

    Love Juliepf xx