My pulmo ordered some blood work a few weeks ago and I just got the results in the mail. There was a category for an anti-neutrophil test and it had a few things under it, one being RA factor. Most everything was normal but the RA was 4 which apparantly is positive. When I researched what this was testing for all the information was about rheumatoid arthritis and I dont understand how this links to lung disease. It seems that this is a really low RA value but is this significant in any way to my health? Just curious what it meant<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Thanks for any input!
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RA Factor in lung disease??
- Thread starter muchlove
- Start date
My pulmo ordered some blood work a few weeks ago and I just got the results in the mail. There was a category for an anti-neutrophil test and it had a few things under it, one being RA factor. Most everything was normal but the RA was 4 which apparantly is positive. When I researched what this was testing for all the information was about rheumatoid arthritis and I dont understand how this links to lung disease. It seems that this is a really low RA value but is this significant in any way to my health? Just curious what it meant<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Thanks for any input!
There has been interest in the role of neutrophils in CF lungs for several years now. Research has indicated that bacterial infection may not be the sole cause of lung damage in CF patients. Admittedly, I have not followed the research closely, and only have a cursory knowledge of it. I do know that they continue to study the effect.
Did you sign a paper at clinic asking for additional blood work and any fluid from a BAL to be sent for study? If so, that's the reason.
Did you sign a paper at clinic asking for additional blood work and any fluid from a BAL to be sent for study? If so, that's the reason.
There has been interest in the role of neutrophils in CF lungs for several years now. Research has indicated that bacterial infection may not be the sole cause of lung damage in CF patients. Admittedly, I have not followed the research closely, and only have a cursory knowledge of it. I do know that they continue to study the effect.
Did you sign a paper at clinic asking for additional blood work and any fluid from a BAL to be sent for study? If so, that's the reason.
Did you sign a paper at clinic asking for additional blood work and any fluid from a BAL to be sent for study? If so, that's the reason.
There's a link between bronchiectasis and RA. If you google "bronchiectasis rheumatoid" you'll see many studies.
This one loops smoking into the picture because it is linked to RA, but the study is interesting overall because it touches on various chicken-egg questions--one being whether bronchiectasis/inflammation causes RA.
http://ard.bmj.com/content/63/8/1001.full
This one loops smoking into the picture because it is linked to RA, but the study is interesting overall because it touches on various chicken-egg questions--one being whether bronchiectasis/inflammation causes RA.
http://ard.bmj.com/content/63/8/1001.full
There's a link between bronchiectasis and RA. If you google "bronchiectasis rheumatoid" you'll see many studies.
This one loops smoking into the picture because it is linked to RA, but the study is interesting overall because it touches on various chicken-egg questions--one being whether bronchiectasis/inflammation causes RA.
http://ard.bmj.com/content/63/8/1001.full
This one loops smoking into the picture because it is linked to RA, but the study is interesting overall because it touches on various chicken-egg questions--one being whether bronchiectasis/inflammation causes RA.
http://ard.bmj.com/content/63/8/1001.full
Do you have any joint pain? I don't have RA, but I have a lot of pain from psoraitic arthritic and CF-relating inflammation. It might be helpful in the long run that you have this and don't have pain yet. Whether you can do treatments that can prevent/relegate the pain in the future that people without the RA couldn't do could be a plus.
Do you have any joint pain? I don't have RA, but I have a lot of pain from psoraitic arthritic and CF-relating inflammation. It might be helpful in the long run that you have this and don't have pain yet. Whether you can do treatments that can prevent/relegate the pain in the future that people without the RA couldn't do could be a plus.
wskirchner
New member
I have what the docs here like to call CF related arthritis however I have asked my doc about the higher RA levels too and he has mentioned hes not sure if it really is the RA or if it is the infection in the lungs making the RA inflammation levels higher. Do with that what you will, I tend to file it in the trash because its about as useful as that...
wskirchner
New member
I have what the docs here like to call CF related arthritis however I have asked my doc about the higher RA levels too and he has mentioned hes not sure if it really is the RA or if it is the infection in the lungs making the RA inflammation levels higher. Do with that what you will, I tend to file it in the trash because its about as useful as that...