What is seropositive rheumatoid arthritis?
Seropositive rheumatoid arthritis is autoimmune lesion of articular tissues. This disease is always chronic and have two types that are significantly different in symptoms and developed characteristics.
In 80% of cases rheumatologist diagnose seropositive rheumatoid arthritis. What is it? For this type of disease it is characteristic presence of rheumatoid factors in the blood- special sorts of proteins in biochemical analysis of the blood (autoantibodies).
Seropositive type of rheumatoid arthritis is the most dangerous and harmful for the patient. It has destructive influence on joints and surrounding tissues, negatively affects membranes of inner organs and causes irregularities in functioning of the circulation system.
On the beginning of the disease patient can live long without symptoms, so seropositive rheumatoid arthritis usually causes serious and often irreversible damage on the joints, which can lead to invalidity.
Remaining 20% of the cases belong to seronegative type of rheumatoid arthritis in which there are no rheumatoid factor in blood test. This type of pathology begins suddenly with very expressed symptoms:
– Fever in the evening and normal body temperature in the morning,
-Swelling in the vicinity of lymph nodes,
-Significant reduction of body weight,
– Atrophy of the leg muscles.
Symptoms of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis are different and significantly weaker (we will speak later about it).
Encouraging news are that seropositive type of rheumatoid arthritis can be cured in earlier phases of the disease, while seronegative type of the disease do not usually respond to therapy. Today there are modern medication that influence not only on symptoms, but to the problem itself that has no good response to therapy. Use of basic medicines in combination with supplements that contain vitamin D in large quantities enables change of immunological response and stops process of articular destruction.
Symptoms of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis
Initial stage of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis goes usually asymptomatic. Symptoms are expressed implicitly, very seldom there are worsening of the symptoms that quickly are weakening. Because of that, almost as a rule, patient becomes a rheumatic and gets diagnosis when illness is already chronic, and many pathologic changes became irreversible.
Symptoms:
– Feeling of weakness in the whole body
-Unexplained loss of weight
-Increased sweating
-Constant increase of body temperature toward the evening
– Joint stiffness in the morning and after long inactivity
Main confirmation of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis are the blood test results.
In seropositive type of the disease, joints are twisting symmetrically (for instance, the same joint of the thumb on right and left hand have visible the same changes).
When degeneration of joints appears, on the first place attacks smaller joints, and as disease progresses it can be observed even on larger joints.
Possible complications
Seropositive rheumatoid arthritis can cause heavy complications and different accompanying diseases.
Starting from destructive activity in joint tissues, the disease penetrates the internal organs and destroys its protective membrane and structure. With time this leads to a disruption of the functioning of most of the internal organs, which results in the development of many serious diseases:
– Damaging of the tissue of vascular system (vasculitis);
– Chronic enlargement of lymph nodes;
– Irreversible changes in pulmonary tissue;
– Damage of heart muscle;
– Disorders of the gastrointestinal tract (nausea, flatulence, pain in the intestines).
Pain therapy
Regarding the fact that rheumatoid arthritis leads to damaging of surrounding tissues, medications are applicated for neurological pain reduction. For pain therapy it is indicated acupuncture and laser but also ultrasound guided blockades.
Seropositive rheumatoid arthritis – treatment methods
Modern medicine have possibilities to stop process of the disease that causes seropositive rheumatoid arthritis in early phases. It is very important to do detailed examination by rheumatologist and have detailed examination.
Treatment must be complex: combination of therapies with modern medical treatments, traditional medicines and physical therapies in most of the cases enables to slow down process of destroying tissue and organs. So, early diagnosis of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis is essential for further course of illness.
Responsible attitude toward health, regular medical examinations and special type of diet, can defeat seropositive rheumatoid arthritis. It is important to arrive on time for rheumatological examinations and not to interrupt already prescribed medical treatments on your own. Respect of all medical examinaitons and advices that were given to the patient can free patient from unpleasant symtoms of the disease and enable him to lead a normal life.
