Connected Rheumatology

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Rheumatoid Arthritis

Seronegative Autoimmune Disease and Abnormal Test Results

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Today is a question grab bag – we tackle your questions about seronegative disease and handling abnormal autoantibody results.

What is a Sero-Negative Autoimmune Disease?

First off, let’s talk about what “sero-negative” means. “Sero-” refers to blood, and “negative” means that when we run auto-antibody blood tests, they come back negative. So, a sero-negative autoimmune disease is one where these specific blood tests don’t pick up the antibodies we typically look for.

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Understanding Remission in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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“Remission” is a word often thrown around in arthritis and autoimmune circles and can often be misconstrued as “cure.” So let’s start with what we mean when we say “remission” in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Remission isn’t just about feeling better—it’s about achieving a state where there are no visible signs or symptoms of RA, minimal joint inflammation, and low levels of inflammation markers in the blood. It’s what every rheumatologist and RA warrior strive for when making decisions about treatment.

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Methotrexate – Everything You Need to Know

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If you’ve been handed a prescription for this medication, chances are you’re feeling a mix of emotions – curiosity, apprehension, maybe even a little fear. Well, fear not! Today, we’re going to unpack everything you need to know about methotrexate, its role in rheumatology, and how it can help you tackle those pesky autoimmune symptoms head-on.

Understanding Methotrexate’s History

Methotrexate may sound like a mouthful, but it’s been a cornerstone of autoimmune treatment for decades. Back in the late 1940s, its predecessors were first used to combat leukemia in children – and thankfully they were effective! Methotrexate then made its debut into Rheumatology with successful use in rheumatoid arthritis and then later psoriasis. 

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Deciphering the Rheumatoid Factor: More Than Just a Blood Test

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Understanding the Rheumatoid Factor (RF) and its relationship with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) isn’t as easy as the names imply. You might think that a positive RF test result spells out RA without a doubt, but as with most things autoimmune, it’s not that simple.

The Rheumatoid Factor autoantibody

The Rheumatoid Factor is an autoantibody, which means it’s a protein produced by our immune system that mistakenly attacks our own tissues. Our immune system is constantly producing autoantibodies, however we also have a built-in regulatory system that finds these autoantibodies and destroys them – making sure they don’t cause trouble. When an autoimmune condition, like Rheumatoid Arthritis develops, it’s because our regulatory system is faltering and isn’t doing a good job of getting rid of autoantibodies and other autoimmune factors. 

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5 Essential Rheumatoid Arthritis Questions for Your Rheumatologist

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Your relationship with your rheumatologist will set the stage for your rheumatoid arthritis progress and the best way to ensure that relationship is tight is by asking questions! Go beyond the basics with these 5 questions that will help you understand how your doctor thinks.

Understanding Your RA Diagnosis: How Certain Are You?

First things first, let’s talk about the diagnosis. RA can be tricky to pin down, and it’s essential to understand how certain your rheumatologist is about your diagnosis. Don’t be afraid to ask questions like, “How did you come to this diagnosis?” and “How confident are you about it?” Knowing where you stand can help guide your treatment plan and ease any uncertainties you may have.

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