What is the rheumatoid factor?
rheumatoid factor concerns an antibody that may be present in the blood of individuals diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Usually, the rheumatoid factor is not generally present in the blood belts of most of the population. Sometimes, however, it can be detected in a small proportion of healthy people. In addition, an increased rheumatoid factor may be present in individuals over 65 years. A simple blood test can detect it and no special preparation is required before testing. Autoimmune diseases such as sjogren, scleroderma and systemic erythematosus syndrome may usually return a positive rheumatoid factor. Similarly, infections can also play a role in a positive rheumatoid factor. Patients with tuberculosis, bacterial endocarditis or osteomyelitis have sometimes diagnosed tuberculosis, bacterial endocarditis or osteomyelitiday have a positive test. In this procedure, small balls covered with antibodies are combined with the patient's blood. If a rheumatoid factor is present in the blood, the balls will be andglutinate or cluster together. Another method is called nephelometry test. This procedure combines the blood of the patient with antibodies that promote blood clotting in the presence of a positive factor.
Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis by this blood test is only one component in making a positive diagnosis. The doctor generally makes a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis if both a positive blood test and symptoms are present. Common symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include pain, swelling and morning stiffness in one or more joints. The X -ray rays of frequently affected joints also show inflamed joint capsules and loss of bones and cartilage.
In addition to the rheumatoid antibody test to detect the presence of rheumatoid arthritis, other blood tests are often used to justify the diagnosis. A diagnostic blood test called the degree of erythrocyte sedimentation or esr is a test that, pokUD is increased, may indicate health conditions associated with inflammation in the body. Most often, a patient with rheumatoid arthritis will have increased ESR because rheumatoid arthritis includes an inflammatory process.
It is important to realize that the test factor of the rheumatoid antibody is neither specific nor diagnostic. In general, diagnosis is usually found only if other factors are present. Other factors that must be present in conjunction with the blood test of the antibodies are the symptoms of the patient and his medical history. Many times, when a positive test result is reported, the doctor can order a repeated test of predispositional factors, such as a laboratory error or the presence of infection.