"Is a Low Normal Rheumatoid Factor Level on a Blood Test Indicative of Anything?"
Blood Test Results Showing Normal to Low Rheumatoid Factor Levels
A blood test revealing normal to low rheumatoid factor (RF) levels is typically associated with autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, genetic disorders, tumors, and other underlying causes. In such cases, a specialized physician must carefully assess the patient's specific clinical manifestations and provide targeted treatment accordingly.
1. Autoimmune Diseases: If a patient suffers from autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis, it can lead to multi-system involvement, resulting in a slight elevation of RF levels. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen capsules, can be prescribed for effective anti-rheumatic treatment.
2. Infectious Diseases: Viral infections, including hepatitis viruses, can damage the liver and disrupt liver function, leading to normal to low RF levels. Antiviral treatment with medications like entecavir dispersible tablets or tenofovir alafenamide fumarate tablets is necessary.
3. Genetic Disorders: Conditions like hereditary rheumatoid arthritis can exhibit normal to low RF levels on blood tests due to RF being an autoantibody. For these diseases, there are no definitive treatments, and joint function correction through arthroscopy is generally recommended.
4. Tumors: The presence of tumors can disrupt normal cellular functions, reducing RF synthesis, and resulting in normal to low RF levels on blood tests. Surgical removal of the tumor followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy for the primary disease is advised.
If blood test results show normal to low RF levels, it is crucial to promptly consult a rheumatologist for further evaluation, including blood tests, to determine the underlying cause and initiate appropriate treatment under medical guidance.