Another lil q ?

Hi pollianna,

I thought I gave you this link but maybe not :hehe::hehe:

http://labtestsonline.org.au/understanding/analytes/rheumatoid/glance.html

once you have read the first page if you go to the bottom right hand corner it says next and there are several pages explaining the rheumatoid factor, what it is, what it tests for, what abnormal results mean etc. etc.

As far as what the numbers mean the jury is still out on that. Some studies which are done mainly on Rheumatoid Arthritis sufferers (and you have had x-rays to check for that haven't you?) showed that a higher positivity equalled a more erosive course for their arthritis. However those same studies did not reveal a correlation of higher positivity with more severe Sjogren's Syndrome. To contradict that other studies have shown no correlation between how highly positive someone was and how severe their RA was :hehe: Clear as mud really..............it's just another unknown because people vary so much in their presentation.

With the ANA readings in Lupus patients there is absolutely no correlation of severity of disease with higher readings. Something the docs acknowledge and we here proved a long time ago :lol:

love
Lily