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Suggest Treatment For Rheumatoid Arthritis
Question: My rheumatologist diagnosed me with Rheumatoid Arthritis after examining multiple joints and after describing my pain. My pain is mirrored in multiple joints. He put me on Methotrexate before my blood work came back. My question is, my blood work is all normal except for Vitamin D 25 Hydroxy which is 25.6 (considered low). I am showing CRP level of 1.4 mg/L (normal range), CCP
Brief Answer:
there are criteria for diagnosis
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
There are criteria for diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, the criteria look at : (1)the number of joints involved
(2)serology/ blood test results, particularly Rf and anti CCP antibodies,
(3)how long the symptoms were going on
(4)c reactive protein (CRP) levels and ESR levels
Points are given and if a person has more than 6 or more points, according to the XXXXXXX college of rheumatology/european league against rheumatology.
You can take a look at these criteria (in terms of number of joints involved), to see if you fit and also compare your blood test results.
If these blood tests are done and are normal, then you are not likely to have rheumatoid arthritis.
There are other causes of multiple joint pain such as lupus or other autoimmune types of arthritis, sickle cell or other abnormal hemoglobins, gout, reactive arthritis, infection
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
there are criteria for diagnosis
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
There are criteria for diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, the criteria look at : (1)the number of joints involved
(2)serology/ blood test results, particularly Rf and anti CCP antibodies,
(3)how long the symptoms were going on
(4)c reactive protein (CRP) levels and ESR levels
Points are given and if a person has more than 6 or more points, according to the XXXXXXX college of rheumatology/european league against rheumatology.
You can take a look at these criteria (in terms of number of joints involved), to see if you fit and also compare your blood test results.
If these blood tests are done and are normal, then you are not likely to have rheumatoid arthritis.
There are other causes of multiple joint pain such as lupus or other autoimmune types of arthritis, sickle cell or other abnormal hemoglobins, gout, reactive arthritis, infection
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you. So if the CRP, CCP and RF are all present in the blood but at normal levels and ESR level is normal, it is not likely this is rheumatoid arthritis?
Brief Answer:
not likely
Detailed Answer:
HI
Yes, if these tests are all normal and when you look at the criteria for the length of time and number of joints involved, you add up to less than 6 points, not likely RA
One joint is 0 points
2 to 10 large joints is 1 point
one to three small with or without involvement of large joints--2 points
4 to 10 small joints , with or without large joints---3
more than 10 joints with at least one small joint----5
Less than 6 weeks---- 0 points
more than 6 weeks----1 point
Please feel free to ask anything else
not likely
Detailed Answer:
HI
Yes, if these tests are all normal and when you look at the criteria for the length of time and number of joints involved, you add up to less than 6 points, not likely RA
One joint is 0 points
2 to 10 large joints is 1 point
one to three small with or without involvement of large joints--2 points
4 to 10 small joints , with or without large joints---3
more than 10 joints with at least one small joint----5
Less than 6 weeks---- 0 points
more than 6 weeks----1 point
Please feel free to ask anything else
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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