Is a positive rheumatoid factor the only indicator for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis?

       The answer is no. The reasons are as follows: 1, RF is one of the indicators for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, only 70% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis RF positive, other diseases and normal people can also be positive. Normal people 5% positive rate, the older the age, the higher the rate of positivity. Guo Huiqing, Department of Chiropractic, Henan Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2, lupus erythematosus, dry syndrome and other diseases can also appear RF positive, in addition to hepatitis, infection, etc.  3, for patients who have been diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis, the higher the RF titer, suggesting more serious joint lesions and poor prognosis.  4, RF negative does not exclude rheumatic disease, there are 20-30% of rheumatoid arthritis patients can appear RF negative.  Therefore, it can not be said that RF positive on the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, its negative can not exclude rheumatoid arthritis, RF is not specific indicators of rheumatoid arthritis.