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RF is 19.1 and ESR is 9

Posted , 2 users are following.

Brennifer66
Brennifer66

Just for Lana back and unsure what they mean. Waiting to speak to my PCP next week. Can anyone give me some insight?

1 like, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • Brennifer66
    Brennifer66

    Posted

    That should read just got labs back...
  • EileenH
    EileenH Brennifer66

    Posted

    The ESR is a measure of inflammation in the body. It's "normal range" across a healthy population is 1-20 so yours is well within acceptable range. However, some people do not develop this "acute phase response" as it is called and their ESR never rises - no-one knows why. It also rises with a cold/flu, injury, even pregnancy, so it is very non-specific.

    Rheumatoid factor is something that you are either positive or negative for - it is a measure of antibodies in your blood. You can be healthy and be positive or have an arthritis and have a negative result. Usually somewhere about 20 IU/ml is the cut off - below is low or negative, above is raised or positive.- but the result varies from lab to lab and they are all slightly different so without knowing what it says on your results (usually in brackets after the result) no-one can say.

    Neither of them says anything on their own - they are part of the bigger picture of other results and clinical symptoms.

  • Brennifer66
    Brennifer66

    Posted

    Thank you for your input. I am submitting the report...                                       Report                              Result Ref.   Range Units                 Status   Lab

    RHEUMATOID FACTOR, SERUM 19.1 LESS THAN 14 IU/mL High      Final

    I was tested 20+ years ago and was told I have RA, I was generally asymptomatic, with the exception of fatigue. I am so confused at this point!

     

    • EileenH
      EileenH Brennifer66

      Posted

      As I said, some people can be "high" or positive and not be ill. It isn't true to say that a positive result means you have RA if it is on its own  - the diagnosis for RA really requires a demonstration there is something else going on, symptoms and, above all, evidence of damage to the joints. Fatigue is a sign of a whole range of autoimmune disorders and a high rheumatoid factor may be found there - but it still doesn't pin it down to RA. RA can go into remission but it will still leave a raised RF and I don't think that RA is treated if it isn't there doing damage. 

      Ask your rheumatologist to explain - far better than asking a GP as they often assume that a positive RF means the patient has RA. 

    • Brennifer66
      Brennifer66 EileenH

      Posted

      Thank you for your input. I am hoping it is RA in remission. I have been having more pain, but nthing dibilitating as yet, thank goodness! I do not want to take anymore medication than I already am. I am hoping to get a referral to a rhuematologist at my next appointment.
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