Rheumatoid Factor (RF): What To Think About
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What To Think About
- A small number of people have a high RF level but do not have rheumatoid arthritis. A small number of these people will later have rheumatoid arthritis.
- A health professional always uses the results of an RF test along with information gained from a medical history and physical examination before diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis.
- Cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) is an antibody that is found in the blood of more than half of all people who have rheumatoid arthritis. It is used to confirm a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.
- Older adults who do not have rheumatoid arthritis sometimes have a slightly high RF level.
- Some people have rheumatoid arthritis and have a normal level of RF. The RF test may need to be repeated if rheumatoid arthritis is suspected and the first RF level was normal.
- Less than one-third of children who have juvenile rheumatoid arthritis have a high RF level.
| Last updated: | June 12, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH |
| Reviewed By: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Stanford M. Shoor, MD - Rheumatology |
| Editors: | Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer |
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