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Rheumatoid Factor (RF)Test

by | Sep 12, 2022 | Info | 0 comments

Rheumatoid Factor (RF) Overview

Rheumatoid factors (RF) are proteins produced by the immune system. These proteins attack healthy cells in the body. High RF levels in the blood can indicate an autoimmune disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Usually, the immune system attacks disease-causing substances like viruses and bacteria. Rheumatoid factors attack healthy joints, glands, or other normal cells by mistake.

An RF test is a blood test that is most often used to help diagnose rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.

High RF levels can indicate rheumatoid arthritis, but this is only one aspect of a full diagnosis. High RF levels can also occur in patients with other diseases and in those with no health issues. Also, in some cases, patients with autoimmune diseases have normal RF levels.

In patients with autoimmune conditions, the immune system mistakes healthy cells for foreign bodies and typically creates higher levels of antibodies such as RF to attack these cells.

Higher levels of RF in the body can indicate that there is some level of autoimmune activity happening, which can, in turn, point to the presence of an underlying condition.



Rheumatoid Factor (RF) Tests

A rheumatoid factor test is one of a group of blood tests primarily used to help pinpoint a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. These other tests may include:

  • Antinuclear Antibody-(ANA) Test
  • Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies
  • C-reactive protein (CRP)
  • Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR, or sed rate)

The amount of rheumatoid factor in your blood may also help the doctors choose the treatment approach that will work best for your situation.


Rheumatoid Factor (RF) Ranges

The onset of rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases, cancers, and bacterial infections can all affect RF levels. As a result, these levels may be difficult to assess in isolation.

Some doctors define normal RF levels as 0–20 units per milliliter (u/ml) of blood. On the other hand, one 2012 study designated the upper limit of regular levels as 25 u/ml.

An individual’s risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis typically increases with their RF level.

The authors of the 2012 study report that a patient with an RF level of 100 u/ml or higher may be up to 26 times more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than a person with an RF level of under 25 u/ml.

A 2017 review of rheumatoid arthritis biomarkers describes these figures as important diagnostic and prognostic information.


Rheumatoid Factor (RF) Test Results

A positive rheumatoid factor test result indicates that a high level of rheumatoid factor was detected in the patient’s blood.

A higher level of rheumatoid factor in the blood is closely associated with autoimmune disease, particularly rheumatoid arthritis. But a number of other diseases and conditions can raise rheumatoid factor levels, including:

Some healthy people, particularly older individuals, have positive rheumatoid factor tests, though it’s not clear why. And some people who have rheumatoid arthritis will have low levels of rheumatoid factor in their blood.

A high concentration of RF can be a sign of inflammation and autoimmune disruption.

Around 80% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis have significant concentrations of RF in their blood. In the early stages of arthritis, about 30% of patients may have raised levels of RF.

However, higher levels of RF can also occur in other conditions. Autoantibodies can also occur as part of the natural aging process.

If a person has unusually high RF levels and also experiences symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, it is likely they have rheumatoid arthritis.

Some signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include the following:

  • Fatigue
  • Pain and stiffness in the joints
  • Loss of range of motion
  • Nodules under the skin
  • Swelling and inflammation in the joints

How high the patients RF levels are, will factor into a doctor’s diagnosis. Very high levels can be more indicative of rheumatoid arthritis than lower levels, as this points to more activity in the immune system.

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