Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
So I asked my Rheumy for updated labwork. Might as well since my deductibles are paid up & here is what came back.
Sed Rate = 2 = normal
RF factor = 9 = normal
C-Reactive Protein = 0.13 = normal
CCP = 53 = High or Positive since positve is between 40-58
These are numbers taken while being off all meds since 12/2015. I'm assuming this is pretty common?
As I understand it, 95% of those with a positive CCP can expect RA in the next 3 years.
https://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/ccp/tab/test/
http://ard.bmj.com/content/63/9/1085.full
Not sure I understand what you think is common: the result after coming off meds? If so, few people with RA go off meds for a long period, so I think it would be difficult to find them to compare labs with.
August 2013
Can you fill us in on what meds you had been on and how bad your RA was?
Started with Prednisone of course for about 30 days to get all inflammation & swelling down & then I started on MTX & Folic Acid, dosage for MTX originally was 15mg for about 1 month but it was too strong, too nauseas & enzymes were coming up high so we reduced down to 12.5mg which was bearable for about 6mos & then reduced again down to 10mg which was just right & I was on 10mg for about a year. During this time my symptoms pretty much disappeared. I've never swelled up or inflamed again to the original level (or actually at all) just minimal tenderness on a knuckle or toe here & there while on MTX. Then doctor reduced down to 1 tablet 2.5mg & I was on that for almost a year until we decided to stop all meds in 12/2015.
Is this your first CCP antibody test? What/when was the earlier test result?
No this my 2nd, my first was High = >250!
What I meant about being common is just the fluctuations & many of the factors being negative but it seems like the CCP for most people are high especially if you're on this forum? LOL!
Let me know what you think
Given that most of the people on this forum seem to be newly diagnosed OR long-timers who haven't had great success for a sustained period of time with any one DMARD, I'd venture a guess and sya that you're right: that test results fluctuate greatly.
Now, in MY case [I do very well on MTX and Humira and have for a long time], my labs are very stable. I haven't had a CCP antibody test in who knows how long [no reason to], but I have had probably 4 or 5 RF tests [all negative], over 100 ESR tests [all negative], maybe 50 CRP tests [all elevated and within a range of about 5 points]. I have not had a Vectra DA test.
So yes, I'd expect someone who's not successful on DMARDS to have yo-yo type labs. I think. Hmmmmmm.......
What do others think?
But thanks for the feedback it's greatly appreciated it!