The rheumatoid factor is a group of autoimmune antibodies, newly formed and synthesized immunoglobulin proteins, which attack the body, perceiving it, in turn, as foreign bodies. In other words, rheumatoid factor is a protein that is modified under the influence of infections, bacteria or viruses. A positive rheumatoid factor (normal) in women over 18 years of age ranges from 0 to 14 U / ml. Normal values for teenage girls are slightly lower than for adult women: 0 to 12 U/mL.
The formation of rheumatoid factor occurs as a result of beta-hemolytic streptococcus entering the bloodstream of a person, and usually its presence indicates that the body is suffering from an autoimmune or inflammatory disease. But not every patient has an increased content of rheumatoid factor, only a fifth of those infected with beta-hemolytic streptococcus has its increasedcontent.
Norm and excess
If a person is he althy, then the rheumatoid factor (the norm in women) is 10 U / ml. This is an indicator included in the normal amplitude from 0 to 14 U / ml. But even if the value of the rheumatic factor is increased, this does not guarantee the mandatory presence of the disease. This situation is just the basis for a more detailed examination: ultrasound, radiography, tests for the presence of C-reactive protein in the blood.
Just like the absence of a rheumatic factor, its detection does not necessarily indicate the presence of an autoimmune disease, it may indicate viral diseases, cancer, tuberculosis, and even the presence of immunoglobulins in the body of a woman who has recently undergone childbirth. In all these cases, the rheumatoid factor (the norm in women) is negative. Tests will indicate this, but this situation does not always mean that the body is he althy.
Causes of increased rheumatic factor
There are many different theories and assumptions for what reason there is an increase in rheumatoid factor in the blood. One of them is the assumption of the genetic nature of the disease, when the rheumatoid factor (the norm in women is from 0 to 14 U / ml) is inherited and manifests itself when the body is exposed to various infections and viruses.
Rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's disease
The most common occurrence is when only during a course of long-term systemic therapyrheumatoid factor can be stabilized. The norm in women (treatment can help with this) will definitely recover to values from 0 to 14 U / ml. Whatever the diagnosis is: rheumatoid arthritis or Sjögren's syndrome, the rheumatic factor will return to the normal range from correctly performed medical measures.
Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's syndrome are common in older people. In the first case, the patient has inflammation of the joints, dryness of the mucous membranes and skin, in the second case, dysfunction of the endocrine glands. Rheumatoid arthritis is also characterized by the appearance of nodular neoplasms and difficulty in the motor activity of the joints.
Testing for rheumatoid factor
On the eve of the analysis for the presence of rheumatoid factor, the patient must take a set of preparatory measures: at least 24 hours do not smoke, do not engage in physical labor, do not drink alcohol and fatty foods. And for eight to twelve hours, take no food other than clean, non-carbonated food.
The appointment of an analysis for rheumatic factor usually occurs if a woman who has recently given birth to a child has been complaining of a sore throat for a long time. In such a case, venous blood is taken from her, the analysis of which determines the indicators of the rheumatoid factor in the body. Moreover, if the value is from 25 to 50 IU / ml, then it is considered slightly increased, if 50-100 IU / ml - stably increased, and more than 100IU / ml - strongly elevated. To confirm the diagnosis, three or more additional studies are usually carried out, which must confirm or refute the result of a blood test. Only in this case can rheumatoid arthritis or Sjögren's syndrome be diagnosed. It should be remembered that the treatment of these diseases is the work of a certified specialist. Self-medication or following the advice of illiterate people in this case will have a detrimental effect on the patient's he alth.
Reduce rheumatic factor
If the survey showed that the rheumatoid factor (the norm for women in IU / ml is from 0 to 14) is increased, steps should be taken not to reduce the rheumatic factor, but to eliminate the reasons for its increase. That is, it is not the symptom that needs to be treated, but the disease that caused it. The patient is usually treated with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, or steroid hormones.
Treatment should last until the rheumatoid factor reaches normal. During therapy, the patient must also follow certain rules: do not smoke, do not drink alcohol, do not overcool, protect yourself from contact with sick people, get rid of physical activity for a while, eat he althy food and use multivitamin complexes. These precautions will help strengthen and improve the body.
From symptomatology to disease
The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis usually appear long before the increaserheumatic factor (about 6 - 8 weeks earlier), so the analysis carried out at the initial stage of the disease may not show an increased value.
Low levels of rheumatic factor are characteristic of such diseases as infectious mononucleosis, acute inflammatory processes, the consequences of multiple blood transfusions in a woman who has undergone multiple births.
Increased rheumatic factor is also observed in systemic lupus erythematosus, nodular periarthritis, dermatomyositis, liver cirrhosis, scleroderma, hepatitis and (in 60% of cases) in subacute bacterial endocarditis.
Rheumatic factor in patients with rheumatism
Remarkably, most people with rheumatism have normal rheumatoid factor. An increased value of the indicator is most often observed with repeated diseases. It can also be increased in he althy people, which will indicate that a person is at risk. There are cases when an increased rheumatic factor was detected several years before the development of the disease.
Prevention
In order to prevent an increase in rheumatoid factor, it is recommended to lead a he althy lifestyle, minimize s alt intake, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, do not drink alcohol and do not smoke. It is very important to avoid an increase in the rheumatoid factor in a timely manner to treat diseases, if any, and, if possible, to prevent their transition to the chronic stage. Regular hypothermia and infectious diseases can also lead to an increase in rheumatoid factor.diseases, so it is recommended to avoid them.
