Is A Rheumatoid Factor Of 61 A Cause For Concern?

Posted on Sat, 11 Jun 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 11 Jun 2016 Answered on

Tue, 5 Jul 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I have a rheumatoid factor of 61. I also have arthritis in most of my joints including hands, wrists, feet, ankles, knees, shoulders. I also have a lot of soft tissue pain. Mainly in my lower legs ? tendinopathy, shoulders and upper arms. My rheumatologist has been trying to decide if I have inflammatory osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia or rheumatoid arthritis. I have two autoimmune diseases - coeliac disease and Meniere's disease. I am 74 years old and on 5mg prednisone but still in pain. I would appreciate your comments. Thank you very much. Anne

Answered by Dr. Dr. Shruti Rijhwani (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
That needs physical examination.

Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX ,

Thank you for posting your query on HCM.

Well looking into your problem I would like to tell you that , osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis have different joint involvements like DIP joint of fingers are not involved in Rheumatoid arthritis . So this will be decided by your rheumatologist after examination and imaging . Also lot of degenerative changes are there in osteoarthritis . One other possibility is polymyalgia rheumatica which I think they must have considered already . Fibromyalgia can accompany any of these diseases . Also of importance is that whether your anti CCP antibody levels are positive or not , if they are positive chances of you suffering from RA increases . Any other query please ask

Take care.

Dr. Shruti

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar