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Symptoms of Rheumatoid Factor

Rheumatoid factors are auto-antibodies produced by your immune system that attack healthy tissue in the body. Rheumatoid factor is most associated with rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. Tests to measure rheumatoid factor are available.

  1. Symptoms

    • Symptoms of rheumatoid factor depend on what disease you have acquired that is associated with the auto-antibody protein. Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms include joint pain and swelling, red and swollen hands, hard lumps under the skin of your arms, fatigue and weight loss. Symptoms of Sjogren's syndrome, which is highly associated with the rheumatoid factor, include dry eyes and mouth, vaginal dryness, joint pain and stiffness, swelling of joints, dry cough, skin rashes and fatigue.

    Rheumatoid Factor Test

    • A rheumatoid factor test measures the amount of rheumatoid factor in the blood. The test is performed primarily to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis or Sjogren's syndrome. Eighty percent of people with rheumatoid arthritis and all people with Sjogren's syndrome will have positive rheumatoid factor test results, according to the National Institute of Health. Test results can show positive or negative and high or low levels of rheumatoid factors in the bloodstream.

    Diseases

    • Other diseases can reflect positive or high levels of rheumatoid factor and include scleroderma, cancer, cirrhosis, inflammatory lung diseases and chronic infections. Other medical conditions causing a high rheumatoid factor in the blood include AIDS, leukemia, hepatitis, tuberculosis and endocarditis.

    Considerations

    • Some patients may have high levels of rheumatoid factor in their blood, but not have rheumatoid arthritis. Your doctor will perform a physical exam, check your medical history and use other tests before confirming a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. Some people with high levels but no evidence of rheumatoid arthritis may develop the disease later in life.

    Treatment

    • Treatment for diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis that carry high levels of rheumatoid factor include over-the-counter drugs such as Advil and Aleve. These medications relieve pain and inflammation. Corticosteroids such as prednesone reduce joint damage and make you feel better quickly, but steroid use is for short-term treatment only because of unwanted side effects. Surgery options are available when medication treatments fail, such as joint replacement or repairing tendons surrounding the affected joint.

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