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Date: 19.01.2010
From: KayJay

Subject: What is considered a high RF Please ?

Phoned the doc's and they told me my RF factor is over 60 - is this high or low please? and is RF and ERS the same blood tests ? Thanks
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Date: 19.01.2010
From: Jen

Subject: Re: What is considered a high RF Please ?

Well I think 'normal' RF levels in the blood should be around 10, certainly under 20. So yeah 60 is high, but I've read some people's go into the hundreds.

RF is different from ESR, in that it specifically looks for an antibody, the rheumatoid factor (which is present and raised in a high percentage of RA patients, though not all!).
ESR is a generalised test which measures inflammation in the body and is used to test for a number of conditions. I think anything higher than 12 means there's inflammation. But again, it's not too reliable, I had clearly visible inflamed fingers and my ESR was 4.
Good luck!

Hope that helps!
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Date: 19.01.2010
From: Angela

Subject: Re: What is considered a high RF Please ?

I can't really add anything to what Jen said.
I do know that ESR can get very high to, mine has been 103 at its highest, and is now in the 60's on last check.
The CRP is another source of monitering inflammation and infection, apparently and that should be 0-5 again mine at the moment is in the 30's but was in the 80's a couple of months ago.
Hope this is useful.
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Date: 25.01.2010
From: KayJay

Subject: Re: What is considered a high RF Please ?

Thanks guys:0) Waiting to hear what the Rhumie says when I go next month. Apparently they didn't do the CRP blood test. Probably nothing to worry about ? Shall defo tell them I'm not impressed with them not telling me that the systemic Steroid injection I had would raise my blood glucose level though !! It's still quite high - and I was doing so well with my Diabetes - doh !!
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