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What Are The Early Signs Of Arthritis?

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Posted on Mon, 26 Oct 2015
Question: I recently had a FANA, RA latex, ESR drawn for some arthritis problems I'm having. What are the normal for these and what can they tell my Dr.? I return for results next Monday, now I am on a Medrol dosepak and after one day of course already am seeing dramatic results XXXXXXX
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Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (34 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Intrepretation of results

Detailed Answer:
Good evening

Thank you for writing on health care magic

Well, the sort of history you are having looks like you have a start of Arthritis and considering the dramatic response you have had to steroids, it goes more in favor of inflammatory etiology.

Rheumatoid FActor and ANA are basically used to see which sort of arthritis you fit in.

-->If Rheumatoid Factor is positive and ANA negative, it would go in favor of Rheumatoid ARthritis.

-->If Only ANA is positive( or Rheumatoid FActor +ve), we need to look further with ENA Profile to see if it is some connective tissue problem causing the arthritis.

The treatment differs a bit as in Rheumatoid , you need to be on little stronger medications than ANA +ve arthritis. But ANA positive one can affect internal organs which need to be monitored.

ESR is just a marker of inflammation.

Just to add, if you have joint symptoms and there is documented swelling of the joints, even if RA and ANA are negative you still need treatment

Hope the information was useful

Do let me know for more queries

Regards
Dr Naval

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
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Answered by
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Dr. Naval Mendiratta

Rheumatologist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 754 Questions

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What Are The Early Signs Of Arthritis?

Brief Answer: Intrepretation of results Detailed Answer: Good evening Thank you for writing on health care magic Well, the sort of history you are having looks like you have a start of Arthritis and considering the dramatic response you have had to steroids, it goes more in favor of inflammatory etiology. Rheumatoid FActor and ANA are basically used to see which sort of arthritis you fit in. -->If Rheumatoid Factor is positive and ANA negative, it would go in favor of Rheumatoid ARthritis. -->If Only ANA is positive( or Rheumatoid FActor +ve), we need to look further with ENA Profile to see if it is some connective tissue problem causing the arthritis. The treatment differs a bit as in Rheumatoid , you need to be on little stronger medications than ANA +ve arthritis. But ANA positive one can affect internal organs which need to be monitored. ESR is just a marker of inflammation. Just to add, if you have joint symptoms and there is documented swelling of the joints, even if RA and ANA are negative you still need treatment Hope the information was useful Do let me know for more queries Regards Dr Naval