Rheumatoid Factor (RF) is checked when considering which autoimmune disorder?

Rheumatoid Factor (RF) is checked when considering which autoimmune disorder?

• A. RA
• B. Diabetes
• C. Hypertension
• D. Asthma

Answer: (A)

Rheumatoid Factor testing is used when rheumatoid arthritis is suspected. RF is an autoantibody (often an IgM antibody) directed against the Fc portion of IgG. Its presence can support the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis when a patient has inflammatory, symmetric joint pain and morning stiffness, but it isn’t perfectly specific—RF can be detected in some people with other autoimmune diseases and in a subset of healthy older adults. That’s why clinicians also look at more specific markers, like anti-CCP antibodies, and rely on clinical findings and imaging. The other conditions listed—diabetes, hypertension, and asthma—are not primarily evaluated with RF testing, since RF is most relevant to inflammatory autoimmune arthritis rather than these diseases.

Rheumatoid Factor testing is used when rheumatoid arthritis is suspected. RF is an autoantibody (often an IgM antibody) directed against the Fc portion of IgG. Its presence can support the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis when a patient has inflammatory, symmetric joint pain and morning stiffness, but it isn’t perfectly specific—RF can be detected in some people with other autoimmune diseases and in a subset of healthy older adults. That’s why clinicians also look at more specific markers, like anti-CCP antibodies, and rely on clinical findings and imaging. The other conditions listed—diabetes, hypertension, and asthma—are not primarily evaluated with RF testing, since RF is most relevant to inflammatory autoimmune arthritis rather than these diseases.