Rheumatoid factor: the norm in women, deviations

Rheumatoid factor is a group of autoimmune antibodies, newly formed and synthesized immunoglobulin proteins that attack their own organism, perceived by them, in turn, as foreign bodies. In other words, the rheumatoid factor is a protein that is modified by infection, bacteria or viruses. The positive rheumatoid factor (norm) in women over 18 years is from 0 to 14 units / ml. Normal indicators for adolescent girls are slightly lower than in adult women: 0 to 12 U / ml.

The formation of the rheumatoid factor occurs as a result of human beta-hemolytic streptococcus entering the bloodstream, and usually its presence indicates that the body is suffering from an autoimmune or inflammatory disease. But not every patient has an increased content of rheumatoid factor, only a fifth of those infected with beta-hemolytic streptococcus have its increased content.

Rate and excess

If the person is healthy, the rheumatoid factor (the norm in women) is 10 units / ml. This is an indicator included in the normal amplitude from 0 to 14 U / ml. But even if the value of rheumatoid is increased, this does not guarantee the mandatory presence of the disease. This situation is just the basis for a more detailed examination: ultrasound, radiography, tests for the presence of C-reactive protein in the blood.

Just like the absence of a rheumatoid, its detection does not necessarily indicate the presence of an autoimmune disease, it can testify to viral diseases, cancer, tuberculosis, and even the presence of immunoglobulins in the body of a woman who has recently undergone birth. In all these cases, the rheumatoid factor (the norm in women) is negative. This will indicate the analysis, but this situation does not always indicate that the body is healthy.

Causes of increased rheumatoid factor

There are many different theories and assumptions, for what reason in the blood there is an increase in rheumatoid factor. One of them is the assumption about the genetic character of the disease, when the rheumatoid factor (the norm in women is from 0 to 14 U / ml) is transmitted by inheritance and manifests itself upon exposure to the body of various infections and viruses.

Rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's disease

The most common phenomenon is when only during the course of long-term systemic therapy it is possible to stabilize the rheumatoid factor. The norm in women (treatment is able to help in this) will necessarily recover to the values from 0 to 14 units / ml. Whichever diagnosis is made: rheumatoid arthritis or Sjogren's syndrome - from properly conducted medical measures, the rheumatopharyta will return to the norm limits.

Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's syndrome are characteristic of elderly people. In the first case, the patient is observed inflammation of the joints, dry mucous membranes and skin, in the second - the dysfunction of the glands of internal secretion. Rheumatoid arthritis is also characterized by the appearance of nodular neoplasms and difficulty in the motor activity of the joints.

Analysis for rheumatoid factor

On the eve of the analysis for the presence of rheumatoid factor the patient is obliged to conduct a set of preparatory measures: at least 24 hours not to smoke, do not engage in manual work, do not consume alcohol and fatty foods. And for eight to twelve hours, do not take any food, except for pure non-carbonated food.

The purpose of the test for rheumatoid is usually when a woman who has recently given birth for a long time complains of a sore throat. In such a case, the fence of venous blood is made, the analysis of which determines the indices of the rheumatoid factor in the body. In this case, if the value is from 25 to 50 IU / ml, then it is considered slightly elevated if 50-100 IU / ml - stably increased, and more than 100 IU / ml - greatly increased. To confirm the diagnosis, there are usually three or more additional studies that must confirm or disprove the result of a blood test. Only in this case can rheumatoid arthritis or Sjogren's syndrome be diagnosed. It should be remembered that the treatment of these diseases is a matter of a graduate. Taking self-medication or following the advice of semi-literate people in this case will be detrimental to the health of the patient.

Decreased rheumatoid factor

If the examination showed that the rheumatoid factor (the norm in women in MED / ml is from 0 to 14) is increased, steps should be taken not to reduce the index of the rheumatoid factor, but to eliminate the reasons for its increase. That is, it is necessary to treat not a symptom, but a disease that caused it. Usually the patient is treated with antibiotics, anti-inflammatory medications or steroid hormones.

Treatment should last until the moment when the index of rheumatoid factor does not reach the norm. During therapy, the patient also must follow certain rules: do not smoke, do not drink alcohol, do not overcool, protect yourself from contact with sick people, temporarily get rid of physical exertion, eat healthy food and consume multivitamin complexes. These precautions will help to strengthen and improve the body.

From symptomatology to disease

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis usually appear long before the elevation of the rheumatoid factor (about 6 to 8 weeks earlier), so the analysis performed at the initial stage of the disease may not show an increased value.

Low rates of rheumatoid factor are typical for such diseases as infectious mononucleosis, acute inflammatory processes, the consequences of multiple blood transfusions in a woman who has undergone multiple births.

Elevated rheumatoid factor is also observed in cases of red systemic lupus erythematosus, periarthritis of nodular, dermatomyositis, liver cirrhosis, scleroderma, hepatitis and (in 60% of cases) with bacterial endocarditis occurring in subacute form.

Revmofactor in patients with rheumatism

It is noteworthy that most people suffering from rheumatism have a normal rheumatoid factor. The increased value of the indicator is most often observed with repeated diseases. It can also be increased in healthy people, which will indicate the presence of a person at risk. There are cases when an increased rheumatic factor was detected several years before the development of the disease.

Prevention

In order not to allow an increase in the rheumatoid factor, it is recommended to lead a healthy lifestyle, reduce salt intake to a minimum, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, do not consume alcohol and do not smoke. It is very important in order to avoid an increase in the ravmatoid factor in a timely manner to treat the diseases, if they exist, and if possible to prevent their transition to the chronic stage. To lead to an increase in the rheumatoid factor can also be regular hypothermia and infectious diseases, so they are recommended to be avoided.