kageyd
02-09-2010, 08:18 AM
Again, the following helped me clarify just what this test is about. Both this and anti-CCP are indirect measures of RA. Italics and bold are mine, not part of the quote. I do my best to get to the essence of things for myself, perhaps others will find this useful.
From the Wikipedia site:
“Rheumatoid factor (RF or RhF) is an autoantibody (antibody directed against an organism's own tissues…. It is an antibody against the Fc portion of IgG, which is itself [ my addition: a useful normal antibody called IgG. The two ] join to form immune complexes which contribute to the disease process.
“About 80% of people with rheumatoid arthritis have detectable rheumatoid factor. Those who do not are said to be "seronegative".
“High levels of rheumatoid factor (generally above 20 IU/mL, 1:40 or over the 95th percentile -- there is some variation among labs) are indicative of rheumatoid arthritis (present in 80%) …. The higher the levels of RF the higher the possibility of a more destructive articular disease.
“In patients on etanercept or infliximab and DMARDs the levels of rheumatoid factor reduces, which is associated with reduced clinical disease activity….”
From the Wikipedia site:
“Rheumatoid factor (RF or RhF) is an autoantibody (antibody directed against an organism's own tissues…. It is an antibody against the Fc portion of IgG, which is itself [ my addition: a useful normal antibody called IgG. The two ] join to form immune complexes which contribute to the disease process.
“About 80% of people with rheumatoid arthritis have detectable rheumatoid factor. Those who do not are said to be "seronegative".
“High levels of rheumatoid factor (generally above 20 IU/mL, 1:40 or over the 95th percentile -- there is some variation among labs) are indicative of rheumatoid arthritis (present in 80%) …. The higher the levels of RF the higher the possibility of a more destructive articular disease.
“In patients on etanercept or infliximab and DMARDs the levels of rheumatoid factor reduces, which is associated with reduced clinical disease activity….”