Rf factor, what were your rf values when diagnosed?

[alwaysimproving]

All my values are normal. My rf has increased from 4 iu/ml to 7 iu/ml though I'm told that's still normal, as less than 14 iu/ml is normal.

[vniskasa]

My RF was 74 in the first blood test when it was suspected I have an autoimmune disease. Haven't been tested for it after that.

[Anastasia]

Alwaysimproving,
My RF was below 14 the 3 times it's been tested since February, 2016. (I was diagnosed at the end of March).  Also, my SED rate was normal, as was the C Reactive Protein.  These are all markers of inflammation, so that has puzzled me.

The only abnormal bloodwork I have is a marginal ANA (80) and a positive SSA.  Other than that, based on bloodwork, I'm a healthy person!  It's not exactly how I feel but there clearly are very different clinical presentations of this disease as well as varied sero profiles.

When I was in the process of being diagnosed and for a while after, I obsessed with these numbers.  Now, I'm much more focused of symptoms and what's available to alleviate them.  Bloodwork and symptoms may not be directly linked in the way we expect.

Good luck!
Anastasia.

[eye2dry]

My initial RF # was 144 and it has never been tested again.
I don't remember what the lab reference range was but from what I remember
my rheumy said it was quite high.

My ANA was tested at the same time at 1:1280 speckled and has never
been tested again. Then I also had +SSA and +SSB but the report just
said positive with no reference range on the report.

According to my rheumy once you have the positive results, there is no
point to recheck numbers in the future.

shelly

[SJSman]

Hello,

My RF has always been negative, as has my crp.  My sed rate has always been normal for over a decade, except for a brief interval where it climbed up to about 38 one time, which is still low.  I am SSB positive and lip biopsy positive for Sjogren's. 

If your RF is positive, that suggests that you have Rheumatoid arthritis, although extremely elevated RF values are sometimes seen in Primary Sjogren's as well, in very rare cases, for reasons that I do not understand. I still suspect that even extremely elevated RF values indicate a diagnosis of Rheumatoid arthritis (perhaps with associated RA dryness) and not Sjogren's.

ESR and crp are not used in any formal Sjogren's diagnostic protocols, and are not in any way indicators of Sjogren's Disease activity. 

In combination with obvious rheumatological symptoms, some Rheumatologists may consider elevated ESR or crp values to be indicative of some poorly defined rheumatological problem, however, they are typically only given any consideration at all in the absence of other more significant rheumatological diagnostic parameters, and are of little diagnostic value even then beyond simply suggesting that some kind of undefined rheumatological problems may exist.

I agree with what the previous people who replied said.

I hope this helps. 

[Linda196]

While the name may lead you to suspect Rheumatoid Arthritis, rheumatoid factor is actually a broad range indicator of autoimmune disease. It is more of a first line indicator, showing that something is wrong with the immune system, requiring supportive blood work to focus on the disease process, like SS A/B in Sjogren's, anti-CCP antibody for RA, dsDNA for Lupus, or biopsy confirmation of myositis or sarcoidosis.

It is actually becoming one of the early markers for Sjogren's, while losing definition for RA.

Mine runs in the 144 range, but I also have sarcoidosis and dermatomyositis, both of which cause a positive reading. Recently, following a diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica and a course of higher than usual Prednisone for a month, my RF dipped to 78, but was back to 144 within 6 months.

[SJSman]

Hello,

Yes, "positive RF factor plus ANA>320" was set as one of the diagnostic criteria for Sjogren's in the 2012 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Criteria for the Diagnosis of Sjogren's, which are meant for both research and Rheumatology clinical practice use.

These criteria are about to be made obsolete by the interim 2016 ACR Criteria for the Diagnosis of Sjogren's, which have dropped the "positive RF factor plus ANA>320" from their diagnostic criteria.

So, at the highest official levels, RF has come and gone already as a criteria for patient inclusion in research studies and for diagnosis of Sjogren's by practicing Rheumatologists.

I am so sick at the moment that I had tremendous difficulty in typing these simple sentences - that is off topic of course, and has nothing to do with RF or anything.

Just wondering - Has anyone here ever been NOT diagnosed with Lupus who had a positive DsDNA blood test result?

[WhatYouSjo]

My test results have been exactly 4 IU/ml for years. Interestingly, my last round had jumped up to 10 IU/ml, but still within range. I try not to read too much into it.

My bloodwork has been pretty normal, with a negative ANA, SS-A, SS-B, Sed rate, and pretty much everything else. The only real outliers are slightly below range platelet and WBC counts, particularly lymphocytes. Glancing at my blood work, you would think I'm pretty healthy.

Luckily my rheumatologist is willing to look past the blood work. My positive response to both traditional and non-traditional treatment methods make it pretty clear that I have an autoimmune condition, and the symptoms certainly point to Sjogren's.

Autoimmune diseases have enough overlap that it can be difficult to perfectly isolate any one by blood markers alone. There is a reason that diagnostic criteria for diseases like lupus and Sjogren's Syndrome have multiple criteria and change frequently. It's also important to point out that SS diagnostic criteria are designed to be specific for purposes of clinical trials, where a few patients who are misdiagnosed can mean faulty results and wasting of millions of dollars. From the Sjogren's Syndrome Foundation:

"Keep in mind that classification criteria is the strictest criteria available to prove a definitive diagnosis of Sj?gren?s for research purposes. Physicians usually diagnose SS for clinical purposes on a more individual, medically intuitive and broader basis."

[cccourt1942]

Linda has described in much better detail (and explanation) what my diagnosing rheumatologist told me.  He told me it is a test  which is quite old.  It is not important for diagnosis, but a guide in case one begins to show joint problems indicative of RA.  He said approximately half of all of us positive for SjS show the mid to high on this score.  He believed the measure should no longer be used--but it's part of the "battery" if you will.A

The SS-A is the most important of the three :  SS-A, SS-B and RF.

[Ms L]

My Rheumatoid Factor =  42
SSA - 1.14

[SJSman]

Hello everyone,

I have removed this post because it was not written in as friendly helpful manner as it could have been done, and that we at Sjogren's World require.
We all know how very frustrating getting a diagnosis can be, but please be careful how you write about it in your frustration and in your response to others.

Thank you,

Spring
President Sjogren's World

[WhatYouSjo]

Hello everyone,

I have removed this post because it was not written in as friendly helpful manner as it could have been done, and that we at Sjogren's World require.
We all know how very frustrating getting a diagnosis can be, but please be careful how you write about it in your frustration and in your response to others.

Thank you,

Spring
President Sjogren's World

[irish]

This has b'een interesting and Linda's info was very helpful. I have seen this test mentioned more in the last year and I have read that it is used to check for more inflammatory issues than just the RA or Sjogrens.

The same goes for the sed rate and the crp. My immunologist checks this whenever I have a new inflammatory issue going on. So far I never have had elevation of these 2 tests but I swear doc is just waiting for the day. When my sed rate got p to 18 one time he was so excited --- but it went back down again. Normal is below 20 and 18 is the highest it has even gone. It doesn't pay to do these every few months as it can be a waste of money and of no value if it isn't related to an increase in symptoms. At least that is what my doc tells me. Irish

[Jane]

My RF was 500 when I was diagnosed here in the uk. I was told it wasn't a problem.
Now taking Hydroxychloroquine, Mycophenolate and Pregabalin.