What is Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Seronegative rheumatoid arthritis is when a patient’s blood is missing a particular type of antibodies, and the patient is diagnosed with a kind of rheumatoid arthritis.
What is Seropositive Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Patients with a positive result for rheumatoid factor (RF) and/or anti-citrullinated peptides (CPP) antibodies are called seropositive. Being seropositive means that the patient is prone to holds an antibody within their blood, causing an attack on joints and leading to inflammation. These patients can have severe joint deformities, disabilities, and inflammation outside of the joints.
What is Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Seronegative patients have negative rheumatoid factor (RF) and/or anti-citrullinated peptides (CPP) antibodies. This means that their blood does not hold the antibodies that seropositive patients do.
If it was written in simple words, seronegative patients’ blood holds the antibodies at such low levels that the test cannot detect them.
Many patients develop the antibodies several years later in their life; hence they can still be diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis even if they are seronegative.
Some Symptoms of Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis?
In case a patient tested seronegative, the patient must possess some distinctive symptoms, which can conclude that the patient has rheumatoid arthritis. Some signs of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis are:
- Tenderness, swelling, and redness in the joints
- Pain and stiffness in the palm of the hands, knees, elbows, hips, feet, and ankles
- Inflammation
- Fatigue
- Eye redness
These are not the only signs of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis. If you compare these signs to seropositive rheumatoid arthritis patients, their symptoms have similarities, but these symptoms evolve and change over time.
How is Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnosed?
Once a patient has tested negative, it becomes difficult to conclude a patient has rheumatoid arthritis. When the patients exhibit intense rheumatoid arthritis symptoms, they can undergo x-rays to examine the symptoms further. And if x-ray results indicate any bone and cartilage erosion and damage, we can conclude that the patient has rheumatoid arthritis.
Some criteria’s doctors observe when diagnosing seronegative rheumatoid arthritis:
- Negative antibodies of RF, anti-CPP
- Symmetrical symptoms
- Condition is inflammatory
- How to Treat Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Treatments for seronegative and seropositive patients are quite similar. The aim is to provide the patient relief from the pain and prevent the disease’s progression. Treatment should begin immediately to slow down the worsening.
Home & Herbal Remedies
Many patients find a notable decline in pain and swelling with the use of simple home herbal remedies. The symptoms were ultimately put to sleep for some patients when home herbal remedies are combined with a proper diet. Fish oil, turmeric, primrose are some standard recommendations.
Therapy
Physiotherapists help patients improve their mobility and range of movement, which in turn reduces pain.
Home Care
Regular exercise will help patients improve mobility and strengthen the muscles. Meditation is another way to help patients relax and control their stress levels.
Surgery
In some cases, doctors suggest reconstructive surgery or joint replacement surgery. Surgery can help improve the quality of life and reduce pain.
In case you are experiencing any type of joint pain, which you feel is impacting your life, you are in the right place. Rheumatology Care Of North Houston is available to help those suffering from any rheumatic pain. Book an appointment right away to ensure a flexible and smiling life ahead. For more information, visit our website today at www.rheumatologycarehouston.com . You can also call us at 832-538-9779 .