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A rheumatoid factor test measures the rheumatoid factor in your blood.  Testing for rheumatoid factor in your blood means that you are checking for proteins produced by your immune system that can attack healthy tissues in your body.

Elevated levels of rheumatoid factor in the blood are most often associated with autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren’s syndrome.

What Is Rheumatoid Factor?

Rheumatoid factor is an immunoglobulin or antibody which can bind to other antibodies.  Antibodies are normal proteins found in the blood which function within the immune system. Rheumatoid factor is only found in about 1-2% of healthy people.  The incidence of rheumatoid factor increases with age.  About 20% of people over 65 years of age have an elevated rheumatoid factor.

A blood test is used to detect the presence of rheumatoid factor.  A blood test is commonly ordered in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.  Rheumatoid factor is present in 80% of adults who have rheumatoid arthritis.  There is a much lower incidence of rheumatoid factor in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis patients.  The incidence of rheumatoid factor increases with duration of rheumatoid arthritis.  It is estimated that some 20% of people with rheumatoid arthritis remain negative for rheumatoid factor throughout their lifetime with rheumatoid arthritis.

An antibody is a protein made by white blood cells.  Usually, the purpose of an antibody is to fight off infections.  However, some people develop an autoimmune disease.  This is a disease where abnormal antibodies are created and directed against the body’s own tissues.

The rheumatoid factor alone need not be the only test used in diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis because in the early stages of rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatoid factor testing can come back negative.  Between 10% and 20% of patients will always show negative for rheumatoid factor throughout their life with rheumatoid arthritis.  Between 80-90% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis will be positive for rheumatoid factor at some time during the course of their disease.

There are 3 different types of rheumatoid factors.  Most labs only check one of these factors.  Since most labs only check for the IgM factor, it is important that you ask your rheumatologist to have his lab check for all three rheumatoid factors.

There are several risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis.  Numerous research studies continue to show a connection between genetics and rheumatoid arthritis.

In addition to rheumatoid arthritis being genetic, environment can also increase the risk factors.  Work environments that are heavy on routine and repetitive tasks are known to increase one’s risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis.

Both the smoking of cigarettes and second hand smoke are risk factors that can contribute to people developing rheumatoid arthritis.  Furthermore, smoking or being exposed to second hand smoke can exacerbate the seriousness of rheumatoid arthritis in one that already has it.

A person’s ethnic background can also be a contributing factor to higher levels of risk for the disease.  It is believed that Caucasians and some Native American tribes have a greater chance of being affected by rheumatoid arthritis.Top of Form