| If you've been told that you have seronegative | | | | The one major difference that medical studies have |
| rheumatoid arthritis, you're probably wondering exactly | | | | found is that people with seronegative rheumatoid |
| what that is. It's not unusual for your doctor to not fully | | | | arthritis seem to have less overall joint erosion and |
| explain it to you. All that you'll usually be told is that you | | | | damage than people who test positive for the |
| did not test positive for the rheumatoid factor. The | | | | antibody, and usually do not develop nodules under the |
| rheumatoid factor is an immunoglobulin antibody that is | | | | skin, as the positive group tends to do. Otherwise, the |
| found in the blood of around 80% of people with | | | | symptoms and progress of the disease appears to be |
| rheumatoid arthritis and is a common diagnostic tool for | | | | similar in both groups. So, if you test negative for the |
| the disease. However, a certain number of people with | | | | antibody, you will still likely experience joint swelling, |
| the symptoms of the disease no not have this | | | | stiffness, and damage, but not to as great a degree |
| antibody. If that describes you, what does it mean for | | | | as those who test positive. It may be small comfort, |
| your prognosis? | | | | but it is some consolation nonetheless. If you are |
| First of all, this antibody is found in about 1 to 2% of | | | | negative, appreciate the fact that you've been given |
| perfectly healthy people, and it increases in incidence | | | | somewhat of a reprieve--your symptoms, though they |
| with people above the age of 65. Seronegative | | | | are there, could have been much worse, so you are |
| rheumatoid arthritis is also found far more frequently in | | | | among the lucky group that may be able to retain your |
| people with the juvenile form of the disease (acquired | | | | joint function and independence longer than other |
| in childhood). The longer someone has the disease, the | | | | patients with the disease, maybe even throughout your |
| greater likelihood there is for the antibody to appear, | | | | entire life. |
| though in some people it never appears. | | | | |