Understanding Rheumatoid arthritis without rheumatoid factor: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

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Rheumatoid arthritis without rheumatoid factor

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

Additional names

This group contains additional names: - Seronegative Rheumatoid arthritis

General

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a disease that causes pain, swelling or stiffness of the joints in the body. The cause of the disease is unknown, but it is known to involve over activity of the immune system (autoimmune disease). In some cases, the disease may also involve non-joint organs - the heart, lungs or eyes. People who have RA are positive for antibodies such as rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides (anti-CCPs). Being seronegative for RA is when these antibodies are not found in the blood.

111 people with Rheumatoid arthritis without rheumatoid factor

Learn from others who are experiencing Rheumatoid arthritis without rheumatoid factor.

Signs & symptoms

The main joints that are affected by rheumatoid arthritis are the wrists and the joints of the fingers. It may also affect the shoulders and knees. The symptoms usually appear symmetrically and in several joints at the same time. Other symptoms can include weight loss, fever, weakness or fatigue.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is mainly based on physical examination and blood tests. Seronegative RA can only be diagnosed base on symptoms and imaging tests of the joints.

Treatment

Your doctor will usually offer treatment at an early stage in order to prevent long-term damage. Treatment options include: - *Adjusting lifestyle* - Adherence to physical activity to activate the joints, maintaining a balanced weight and avoiding smoking. - *Medication* - There are many drugs used to treat the disease (for example - anti-inflammatory drugs, biological drugs, steroids), and the choice of the appropriate drug is made depending on the nature and severity of the disease. - *Medical follow-up* - it is necessary to regularly monitor the response to treatment, and to undergo routine testing of non-articular organs, such as the heart, to rule out their involvement in the disease.

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike

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