Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionSeropositiveSeronegativeSymptomsTreatments
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Seropositive
Seronegative
Symptoms
Treatments
There are two main types ofrheumatoid arthritis(RA) that affect adults:seropositiveandseronegative. Knowing your RA type can help guide your expectations in terms of treatment.
Seropositive RA is usually more aggressive and can lead to long-term effects like joint damage. However, both types of RA require treatment. Your healthcare provider will design a plan that may include medication and lifestyle changes to help manage your symptoms.
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What Is Rheumatoid Arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease. It occurs when the immune system attacks certain cells in the body, leading to inflammation in the lining of the joints. Unlike other forms of arthritis, RA affects both sides of the body simultaneously (for example, both wrists or both knees.)
If RA is not well controlled, it can lead to permanent damage to joints, bones, and cartilage. The disease may also affect other parts of the body including the lungs and heart. The exactcause of RAis unknown, but it’s thought to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
There are many conditions—such asfibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, and osteoarthritis—that can be confused with RA due to similar symptoms. Your healthcare provider will use a combination of diagnostic blood tests, imaging, and your health history to make an accurate diagnosis.
Seropositive RA
A seropositive RA diagnosis means your blood contains high levels of antibodies calledanti-cyclic citrullinated peptides(anti-CCPs). These antibodies are associated with inflammation in the joints.Seropositive RAis considered to be more progressive and causes more intense symptoms than seronegative.
Seronegative RA
Seronegative RA, in which anti-CCP is absent, is less common: An estimated 20 out of every 100,000 RA diagnoses are seronegative.The symptoms of this type of RA are often less severe and can be unpredictable.
Seronegative RA can be challenging to diagnose and is often mistaken for another condition. One study found that out of nearly 10,000 people diagnosed with seronegative RA, 10% were found to have a different disease—namely,spondyloarthritis,psoriaticarthritis, oraxial spondyloarthritis.
Juvenile RAWhen rheumatoid arthritis affects someone under age 16, it’s called juvenile RA or juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). In addition to joint pain, stiffness, and swelling, children with JIA may have fevers, rash, andswollen lymph nodes.
Juvenile RA
When rheumatoid arthritis affects someone under age 16, it’s called juvenile RA or juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). In addition to joint pain, stiffness, and swelling, children with JIA may have fevers, rash, andswollen lymph nodes.
Studies show that there is often a lag in RA diagnosis after the initial symptoms start.It’s also possible to be misdiagnosed before the more noticeable symptoms of RA arise.
Symptoms of seropositive and seronegative RA are similar and include:
Seropositive RA may result in more pain, and can also cause:
RA doesn’t go away—it’s a condition someone has for the rest of their life. However, an effectivetreatment plancan help you manage your symptoms and slowthe disease’s progression.
Seropositive and seronegative RA are treated with medications, including:
Your healthcare provider may also suggest:
Summary
RA is diagnosed through a combination of physical exams, imaging, and blood tests. If you’ve just been diagnosed with RA, learning whether it’s seropositive or seronegative may help you and your healthcare provider better understand what to expect.
While RA is a chronic (lifelong) disease, there are many treatment options to help people manage their symptoms and slow the disease’s progression. No matter what type of RA you have, your treatment plan will likely include medication to help ease inflammation, as well as physical activity to preserve your strength and range of motion.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Choi S, Lee K-H. Correction:Clinical management of seronegative and seropositive rheumatoid arthritis: A comparative study.PLoS ONE. 2018;13(6):e0199468. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0199468Myasoedova E, Davis J, Matteson EL, Crowson CS.Is the epidemiology of rheumatoid arthritis changing? Results from a population-based incidence study, 1985–2014.Ann Rheum Dis. 2020;79(4):440-444. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2019-216694Nikiphorou E, Sjöwall C, Hannonen P, Rannio T, Sokka T.Long-term outcomes of destructive seronegative (Rheumatoid) arthritis – description of four clinical cases.BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2016;17(1):246. doi:10.1186/s12891-016-1067-yPaalanen K, Puolakka K, Nikiphorou E, Hannonen P, Sokka T.Is seronegative rheumatoid arthritis true rheumatoid arthritis? A nationwide cohort study. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021.Barhamain AS, Magliah RF, Shaheen MH, Munassar SF, Falemban AM, Alshareef MM, Almoallim HM.The journey of rheumatoid arthritis patients: a review of reported lag times from the onset of symptoms.Open Access Rheumatol. 2017;9:139-150. doi: 10.2147/OARRR.S138830Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rheumatoid Arthritis.Nikiphorou E, Sjöwall C, Hannonen P, Rannio T, Sokka T.Long-term outcomes of destructive seronegative (Rheumatoid) arthritis – description of four clinical cases.BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2016;17(1):246. doi:10.1186/s12891-016-1067-yArthritis Foundation.Treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis.Chou PC, Chu HY.Clinical Efficacy of Acupuncture on Rheumatoid Arthritis and Associated Mechanisms: A Systemic Review. Evididence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2018.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Choi S, Lee K-H. Correction:Clinical management of seronegative and seropositive rheumatoid arthritis: A comparative study.PLoS ONE. 2018;13(6):e0199468. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0199468Myasoedova E, Davis J, Matteson EL, Crowson CS.Is the epidemiology of rheumatoid arthritis changing? Results from a population-based incidence study, 1985–2014.Ann Rheum Dis. 2020;79(4):440-444. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2019-216694Nikiphorou E, Sjöwall C, Hannonen P, Rannio T, Sokka T.Long-term outcomes of destructive seronegative (Rheumatoid) arthritis – description of four clinical cases.BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2016;17(1):246. doi:10.1186/s12891-016-1067-yPaalanen K, Puolakka K, Nikiphorou E, Hannonen P, Sokka T.Is seronegative rheumatoid arthritis true rheumatoid arthritis? A nationwide cohort study. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021.Barhamain AS, Magliah RF, Shaheen MH, Munassar SF, Falemban AM, Alshareef MM, Almoallim HM.The journey of rheumatoid arthritis patients: a review of reported lag times from the onset of symptoms.Open Access Rheumatol. 2017;9:139-150. doi: 10.2147/OARRR.S138830Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rheumatoid Arthritis.Nikiphorou E, Sjöwall C, Hannonen P, Rannio T, Sokka T.Long-term outcomes of destructive seronegative (Rheumatoid) arthritis – description of four clinical cases.BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2016;17(1):246. doi:10.1186/s12891-016-1067-yArthritis Foundation.Treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis.Chou PC, Chu HY.Clinical Efficacy of Acupuncture on Rheumatoid Arthritis and Associated Mechanisms: A Systemic Review. Evididence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2018.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Choi S, Lee K-H. Correction:Clinical management of seronegative and seropositive rheumatoid arthritis: A comparative study.PLoS ONE. 2018;13(6):e0199468. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0199468Myasoedova E, Davis J, Matteson EL, Crowson CS.Is the epidemiology of rheumatoid arthritis changing? Results from a population-based incidence study, 1985–2014.Ann Rheum Dis. 2020;79(4):440-444. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2019-216694Nikiphorou E, Sjöwall C, Hannonen P, Rannio T, Sokka T.Long-term outcomes of destructive seronegative (Rheumatoid) arthritis – description of four clinical cases.BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2016;17(1):246. doi:10.1186/s12891-016-1067-yPaalanen K, Puolakka K, Nikiphorou E, Hannonen P, Sokka T.Is seronegative rheumatoid arthritis true rheumatoid arthritis? A nationwide cohort study. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021.Barhamain AS, Magliah RF, Shaheen MH, Munassar SF, Falemban AM, Alshareef MM, Almoallim HM.The journey of rheumatoid arthritis patients: a review of reported lag times from the onset of symptoms.Open Access Rheumatol. 2017;9:139-150. doi: 10.2147/OARRR.S138830Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rheumatoid Arthritis.Nikiphorou E, Sjöwall C, Hannonen P, Rannio T, Sokka T.Long-term outcomes of destructive seronegative (Rheumatoid) arthritis – description of four clinical cases.BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2016;17(1):246. doi:10.1186/s12891-016-1067-yArthritis Foundation.Treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis.Chou PC, Chu HY.Clinical Efficacy of Acupuncture on Rheumatoid Arthritis and Associated Mechanisms: A Systemic Review. Evididence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2018.
Choi S, Lee K-H. Correction:Clinical management of seronegative and seropositive rheumatoid arthritis: A comparative study.PLoS ONE. 2018;13(6):e0199468. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0199468
Myasoedova E, Davis J, Matteson EL, Crowson CS.Is the epidemiology of rheumatoid arthritis changing? Results from a population-based incidence study, 1985–2014.Ann Rheum Dis. 2020;79(4):440-444. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2019-216694
Nikiphorou E, Sjöwall C, Hannonen P, Rannio T, Sokka T.Long-term outcomes of destructive seronegative (Rheumatoid) arthritis – description of four clinical cases.BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2016;17(1):246. doi:10.1186/s12891-016-1067-y
Paalanen K, Puolakka K, Nikiphorou E, Hannonen P, Sokka T.Is seronegative rheumatoid arthritis true rheumatoid arthritis? A nationwide cohort study. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021.
Barhamain AS, Magliah RF, Shaheen MH, Munassar SF, Falemban AM, Alshareef MM, Almoallim HM.The journey of rheumatoid arthritis patients: a review of reported lag times from the onset of symptoms.Open Access Rheumatol. 2017;9:139-150. doi: 10.2147/OARRR.S138830
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Arthritis Foundation.Treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Chou PC, Chu HY.Clinical Efficacy of Acupuncture on Rheumatoid Arthritis and Associated Mechanisms: A Systemic Review. Evididence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2018.
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