My rheumy has never bothered redoing RA-factor, since it really doesn't mean anything in the long run. I had anti-ccp redone once, for daignosis of another possible condition, and have had c-rp and sed rate done periodically. They all can go down, particularly sed rate, and are useful in tracking progress. I don't know if it's worth getting excited about, because many people continue to have joint pain without inflammation, but if you continue to have high values, it could be an indication that something's not working well. My sed rate lowered with MTX and Remicade, but rose again when I had to stop those. It was 38 before I started Rituxan, but is 1 now.

buddhacat covered it well. I get blood work done every time they do Remicade. It pretty well covers the important things. My rheumy told me he doesn't really monitor the sed rate because it can change quickly and is not a good way to determine what is going on with your joints.
I can relate to the joint pain without inflammation, and lots of stiffness. I am better overall than when I started but continue to have flares and intermittent problems. The ankle deterioration is my big problem, gives me weak and tippy feet. Take care, Charlie

I have felt like total crap- get my blood tests and everything is within range and I have always been sero-negative for RF. This has been since the MTX took a good hold. I don't take much stock in them. My doctor is wishy washy. Sometimes he says it really doesn't mean much other times he tells me I have no disease activity and then I feel like putting my foot up his ass because I'm hurting all over. How can I have no disease activity? You mean I'm crazy then? It's all in my head?

I was sero-negative when I started for several years, and then it went up. I do get blood work done once a year as part of my evaluation to stay on my biologic. It has to remain low, plus few flares to prove the drug is still working.

I used to get my liver enzymes done once a month when I was on mthx, but no longer. I will just do it yearly, to make sure something isn't going wrong with my liver.

i have no idea what my numbers are neither I nor my doctor care. My pain vs comfort level is all that matters once a diagnosis is complete. the only reason you might need those numbers is to get disability.

My RA doc tracks the ESR (sed rate) and CRP. My CRP is currently almost 40. The max is should be is

Because I'm taking MTX, I have blood tests every 4 weeks to check liver function. He also does a full blood count with this.
The markers generally are pretty indicative of what's happening with my RA.
However, he never goes by blood tests alone.

thanks all - helpful