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...

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Pre-biologic testing

Angelpuss
Angelpuss
Apart from the ongoing monthly blood tests, are there specific tests a Rheumatologist gets done before prescribing a biologic for the first time
- eg Hep B, Hep C, HIV, Chest x-Ray among others.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I know they do recommend a pneumonia shot, a flu shot, and TB testing. I don't know about the others, though.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Yes, all of the above and TB. thee ae important, and not scary or painful. You need them.
deleted_user
deleted_user
If memory serves me you need to be tested for TB. I also think I had to have a chest x ray.
deleted_user
deleted_user
TB is important because 1/3 of the world has latent TB and the biologics can trigger it and it can be fatal. I thought TB was pretty well dead in North America and a good friend just was diagnosed with it in a routine test for working with kids. She has lupus but is not on a biologic, and is rather in shock. She did do some mission trips to Mexico and might have picked it up there.

I get xrays of my hands and feet yearly, and ESR and a few other just to re-qualify for the biologic. I also have to do a huge survey to find out if I am doing well. Which I am for at least another 5 or 6 months.

Good luck with the tests, and I hope you get on a biologic soon.
Angelpuss
Angelpuss
Thanks Angela, Vanessa, CandyMaggie and bizemomm for your input.
I had already had a flu shot, pneumonia and whooping cough inoculation earlier this year. I have had all the blood tests ordered (13 vials of blood LOL), had the TB test today and will have a chest XRay later in the week, plus a Skin check.
I wasn't worried about the tests, just curious. I have had so many blood tests, x-rays, scans and a biopsy in the last 18 months that it's become almost second nature
deleted_user
deleted_user
TB is definitely still present in the US. I have several friends who work in our corrections system and three out of the five who have been exposed tested positive (not symptomatic). Nine months on meds with weekly liver tests . . .
They are told that with the amount of migrant workers and immigrants that are present in our country, it is likely that a majority of the population has been exposed, if they work with the public.

I also have a friend who was born in Turkey and she has tested positive for "latent TB". She just finished her nine months of meds 3 weeks ago. She was not having issues, but her doctor recommended it before she and her hubby decided to try and get pregnant (he was born in India and has a sibling who has also tested positive, he is negative).

I'm only on Sulfasalazine . . . does any know what my risks are, as far as being "immunosuppressed"?