Can I still have rheumatoid arthritis with negative blood test?

The quick answer is yes, seronegative rheumatoid arthritis does exist. A seronegative test for rheumatoid arthritis means that a person tests negative for rheumatoid factor (RF) and cyclic citrullinated peptides (CCP). However, this answer requires some explanation and a little background.

Do blood tests always show rheumatoid arthritis?

Blood tests No blood test can definitively prove or rule out a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, but several tests can show indications of the condition. Some of the main blood tests used include: erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) – which can help assess levels of inflammation in the body.

What does it mean if my rheumatoid factor is negative?

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. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories.

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.

How common is seronegative rheumatoid arthritis?

Between 1985 and 1994, only 12 out of 10,000 people with RA were seronegative. Between 2005 and 2014, that number crept up to 20 out of 10,000.

Is seronegative rheumatoid arthritis curable?

Effects on RA Treatment Doctors treat seronegative RA the same way they approach seropositive RA: Because there’s no cure, the goal is to ease your symptoms and keep the condition from getting worse.

What illness mimics rheumatoid arthritis?

The autoimmune diseases systemic lupus erythematosus and scleroderma often present with joint involvement that mimics rheumatoid arthritis. While lupus and scleroderma are two different diseases, they often overlap with one another.

Is seronegative arthritis the same as rheumatoid arthritis?

When diagnosing and treating RA, blood tests aren’t everything. There are two main types of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in adults: seropositive and seronegative. Both have the same symptoms — joint pain, morning stiffness, fatigue, fever, low appetite — but the primary difference is in the bloodwork.

How serious is seronegative arthritis?

Seronegative RA causes serious damage to the joints and bones because the body attacks the synovial tissues that cushion the bones.

Can MS be mistaken for rheumatoid arthritis?

Symptoms of RA and MS that are similar include numbness and tingling, muscle weakness, fatigue, vision problems, eye pain, and difficulty walking. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and MS (multiple sclerosis) are both autoimmune diseases. Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by persistent joint pain, swelling, and stiffness.

What is the difference between rheumatoid arthritis and seronegative arthritis?

What is sero negative rheumatoid arthritis?

If you’re seronegative for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you may or may not have RA. It can make it harder to get an RA diagnosis. Being seronegative for RA means that a blood test doesn’t find certain antibodies your body typically makes when you have the condition.

What is the best treatment for seronegative arthritis?

While spondyloarthritis has its own approved set of treatments, seropositive and seronegative RA are treated the same way. Both use disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), biologics, corticosteroids, and anti-inflammatory NSAID painkillers like aspirin.

Does seronegative RA cause joint damage?

A Canadian study found that measures of RA disease activity (such as number of swollen/tender joints or X-ray evidence of joint damage) was higher in seronegative patients than in seropositive patients when the study began. Both seronegative and seropositive patients received similar treatment.

What could it be if it’s not rheumatoid arthritis?

The most common type of arthritis, osteoarthritis (OA), is a degenerative joint disease that can be similar to RA. Some key differences between OA and RA include: The absence of systemic inflammation symptoms with OA.

How is seronegative arthritis diagnosed?

How Do Doctors Diagnose Seronegative RA? People who don’t test positive for the presence of RF and anti-CCP can still be diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis based on their symptoms, a physical exam of their joints, and imaging tests (X-rays and ultrasounds) that can show patterns of cartilage and bone deterioration.