Seronegative arthritis
Last updated 24/03/2021 by The pain clinics - Interdisciplinary Health
Everything You Should Know About Seronegative Arthritis (Great Guide)
Arthritis is an autoimmune, chronic rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis - also known as rheumatoid arthritis. The condition causes pain, swelling and stiffness in the joints. There are several types, including seronegative and seropositive arthritis. In this article, we take a closer look at the rare variant - seronegative arthritis. That is, the person has rheumatoid arthritis - but no effect on blood tests. Which can make the diagnosis more difficult.
- Seronegative versus Seropositive Rheumatic Arthritis
Most people with arthritis have the type of seropositive arthritis. This means that they have substances called "anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide" (anti-SSP) antibodies in the blood, also called rheumatoid factors. A doctor can determine the diagnosis of seropositive arthritis by testing for the presence of this drug.
When a person with arthritis does not have these antibodies in addition, the condition is called seronegative arthritis. Those with seronegative arthritis may have other antibodies in the body, or the tests may show that they do not have antibodies at all.
Nevertheless, it is possible that they develop antibodies at a later stage in life. If this happens, the doctor changes the diagnosis to seropositive arthritis. Seronegative arthritis is significantly rarer than seropositive arthritis.
In this article you will learn more about the symptoms and treatment options for seronegative arthritis.
Symptoms of Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis
The symptoms of seronegative arthritis are similar to those found in the seropositive variant.
They include the following:
Soreness, swelling and redness of the joints
Stiffness, especially in hands, knees, ankles, hips and elbows
Morning stiffness lasting longer than 30 minutes
Persistent inflammation / inflammation
Symptoms that cause rashes on the joints on both sides of the body
Exhaustion
In the earlier stages of the disease, these symptoms tend to affect the smaller joints of the hands and feet the most. However, the condition will begin to affect other joints over time - as it undergoes a progression. The symptoms can also change over time.
Some experts believe that the prognosis for seronegative arthritis is better than for seropositive gout. They believe that the lack of antibodies may be a sign that seronegative arthritis is a milder form of arthritis.
For some, however, the course of the disease may develop quite similarly, and sometimes the diagnosis will change to seropositive over time. It is also possible that a person with seronegative arthritis may have other diagnoses, such as osteoarthritis or psoriatic arthritis later in life.
A study (1) found that participants with seronegative arthritis were more likely to partially recover from the condition than those with the seropositive type, but there was generally little difference in how the two diseases affected those who had them.
Causes and Risk Factors
An autoimmune disease occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue or own cells in the body. When you have arthritis, it often attacks the joint fluid around the joints. This causes cartilage damage, which causes pain and inflammation (inflammation) in the joints. In the long term, major damage to the cartilage can occur, and the bone may start to wear down.
Health professionals do not know exactly why this happens, but some of those who have arthritis have antibodies in their blood called rheumatic factors. It is possible that these contribute to inflammation. However, not everyone with arthritis has this factor.
As mentioned above, those with seropositive arthritis will test positive for rheumatic factors, while those with seronegative gout will not. Experts are still researching why this is the case and what it means.
There is also more and more evidence to suggest that a triggering disease event related to the lungs or mouth - such as gum disease - plays a role in the development of arthritis (2).
Risk Factors
Some people seem to be more prone to develop some form of arthritis. The risk factors are relatively similar for both seropositive and seronegative arthritis, and include:
Genetic factors and family history
Previously specific bacterial or viral infections
Smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke
Exposure to air pollution and certain chemicals and minerals
Gender, as 70% of those with arthritis are women
Age, when the condition usually develops between the ages of 40 and 60 years.
Although the overall risk factors are similar for both types of arthritis, the authors of a 2018 study noted that obesity and smoking are the most common risk factors behind seronegative arthritis, and that people appear to develop different types of gout depending on specific genetic characteristics (3). Research has also suggested that people with seronegative arthritis are more likely to have high blood pressure.
Testing and Diagnosis of Seronegative Rheumatoid Arthritis
A doctor will ask the person about their symptoms, in addition to performing some tests. Regardless, the blood test that tests for rheumatoid factors will be negative in people who have seronegative arthritis. This can make the diagnostic process more difficult.
If a person has symptoms that point to arthritis, the doctor can diagnose the condition even if rheumatoid factors could not be detected in their blood. In some cases, it is possible that the doctor recommends X-rays to be able to examine whether wear and tear has occurred on the bone or cartilage.
Treatment of Seronegative Arthritis
Treatments for seronegative arthritis mostly focus on slowing the development of the condition, preventing joint pain and relieving symptoms. Reducing inflammation levels and the impact the disease has on the body can also reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease in the future.
Exercise has also shown that it can stimulate the anti-inflammatory effect in the body, and thus be part of a symptom-relieving treatment. Many people feel that light exercise works best - as shown in the video below:
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Recommended Self-help for Arthritis
- Compression Noise (such as compression socks that contribute to increased blood circulation to sore muscles or specially adapted compression gloves against rheumatic symptoms in the hands)
Click on the image to read more about compression gloves.
- Toe pullers (several types of rheumatism can cause bent toes - for example hammer toes or hallux valgus (bent big toe) - toe pullers can help relieve these)
- Mini tapes (many with rheumatic and chronic pain feel that it is easier to train with custom elastics)
- Trigger point Balls (self-help to work the muscles on a daily basis)
- Arnica cream or heat conditioner (many people report some pain relief if they use, for example, arnica cream or heat conditioner)
- Many people use arnica cream for pain due to stiff joints and sore muscles. Click on the image above to read more about how arnica cream can help relieve some of your pain situation.
Symptom Treatment
Some of the alternatives available to relieve the symptoms of arthritis include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and steroids.
Common painkillers can treat pain and swelling when you have an outbreak, but they do not affect the course of the disease. Steroids can help manage inflammation when an outbreak occurs or when the symptoms are severe in a specific joint. Unfortunately, there are many side effects, so steroids should not be used regularly. All drug use should be discussed with your GP.
To slow down the process
Alternatives designed to slow the course of the condition include disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and targeted therapy.
DMARDs can help slow down the development of arthritis by changing the way the immune system behaves. Methotrexate (Rheumatrex) is an example of such a DMARD, but if a drug does not work, the doctor may also offer alternatives. DMARD medications do not provide increased pain relief, but they help by reducing the symptoms and maintaining the joints by blocking the inflammatory process that slowly destroys the arthritis of people with arthritis.
Diet for Seronegative Arthritis
Studies have suggested that consuming some foods can help manage the symptoms of arthritis. However, people who have the condition should talk to a physician before trying out special diet plans.
Some people choose to stick to an anti-inflammatory diet with an emphasis on plant-based foods. It seems that Omega-3 fatty acids have an anti-inflammatory effect and can relieve pain and stiffness in sore joints. These fatty acids are obtained from fish oil. Therefore, it can help to eat lean cold-water fish such as herring, salmon and tuna.
Omega-6 fatty acids are found in corn, safflower soybean and sunflower oil. Too much omega-6 can increase the risk of joint inflammation and overweight.
Other foods that are known to exacerbate inflammation include:
Hamburger, chicken and grilled or deep-fried meat
Fat, processed meat
Processed foods and foods with high saturated fat
Food with high sugar and salt levels
Tobacco smoking and alcohol overuse can also exacerbate the symptoms of arthritis.
Those who smoke should talk to their doctors about smoking cessation as soon as possible. Smoking can trigger arthritis and contribute to increased severity and faster development.
Summary
People who have seronegative arthritis have the same symptoms as those with normal arthritis, but blood tests show that they do not have rheumatic factors in their blood. Experts are still researching why this is the case.
The outlook for those with seronegative arthritis seems to be quite similar to those with the seropositive variant. Sometimes future blood tests can reveal the growth of rheumatic factors in the blood over time.
The doctor can advise on what is the best treatment, but lifestyle changes such as healthier diet and regular physical activity can help with the management of the disease.
