Rheumatoid Factor

High concentration of RF by itself does give a diagnosis of RA. In patients with RA, RF levels may persist or fluctuate and correlate with the severity of signs or symptoms of the disease. While it is true that high levels of this autoantibody are often found in people with active cases of rheumatoid arthritis, high RF levels may also result from Sjögren’s syndrome or other inflammatory conditions.

Laboratory monitoring in RA usually involves measurement of inflammatory markers ESR & CRP.

Increased RF levels in your blood can also mean that you have infection; viral infection; endocarditis; tuberculosis; syphilis; systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus); sarcoidosis; cancer; or disease of the liver, lung, or kidneys.