Seronegative rheumatoid arthritis: symptoms, treatment, prognosis

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that is accompanied by damage to the connective tissue elements of the body and is manifested by polyarthritis of unknown etiology. The disease is severe in its course and characteristics of therapy. Pathology has several varieties, one of which is rheumatoid arthritis seronegative.

Characteristic differences in form

During the period of the disease, a specific marker, rheumatoid factor, is present in the blood serum of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis. These are antibodies that the body produces on its own tissues. The factor tends to bind to the antigens of the body.

Seronegative rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by the fact that the patient does not have such a factor, but this does not affect the progression of the disease. The disease does not begin as acutely as other forms, and the course and symptoms are less pronounced.

The onset of manifestations begins with the defeat of one or more joints, but they are not characterized by symmetry. Large joints are involved in the process more often, finger joints - less often.

Etiology of the disease

Seronegative rheumatoid arthritis, whose prognosis is more favorable compared with other forms of pathology, develops against the background of the following factors:

• hereditary predisposition;
• difficult environmental situation in the living conditions;
• viral diseases;
• endocrine system diseases;
• stressful situations;
• mechanical damage to the elements of the musculoskeletal system;
• allergic reactions;
• infectious diseases;
• hypothermia.

The risk group includes older people (from 40 years old). An interesting point about long-term breastfeeding women: lactation up to two years reduces the likelihood of developing the disease three times.

Clinical picture

Consider how seronegative rheumatoid arthritis progresses. Symptoms begin with discomfort and pain in one of the joints. Patients complain of a feeling of light stiffness in the morning, fever, chills, weakness.

If stiffness is pronounced and in the first place damage to small joints occurs, this suggests that the type of disease is seropositive. Seronegative rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by pathology in large joints, for example, knee or hip. The pathology of one joint is called monoarthritis.

In addition, the patient has the following manifestations:

• enlarged regional lymph nodes;
• weight loss;
• muscle atrophy;
• kidney damage.

From the side of the joints with the progression of the condition, the following can be determined:

• the fibrous nature of the changes;
• the presence of contractures;
• frequent exacerbations of the disease;
• joint dysfunction;
• unilateral localization of the lesion during the first year;
• later on, small joints are involved in the process.

Stages of the disease

The course of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis goes through 4 stages:

Stage I - the development of osteoporosis in the joint. The density of bone tissue decreases with a further decrease in their mineralization.

II stage - there is a narrowing of the connective joint space.

Stage III - bone tissue is covered with erosion.

Stage IV - damage to the joint progresses until complete immobilization.

Diagnostic Methods

After the examination, the doctor prescribes general clinical tests. A peripheral blood test determines the presence of signs of inflammation in the body: an increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate and leukocytosis. In the leukocyte formula , an increase in the number of stab neutrophils is detected.

The Waaler-Rose reaction is a specific method for diagnosing the presence of rheumatoid factor. The absence of the latter in blood serum confirms seronegative rheumatoid arthritis.

Next, the patient is subjected to radiography, which determines the following pathologies:

• slight deformation of the feet;
• the prevalence of ankylosing;
• osteoporosis;
• initial changes on the wrist joints.

Therapy Features

The treatment of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis should be comprehensive and should consist of drug therapy, diet, physiotherapy and physiotherapy.

Drug treatment occurs in two stages. To begin with, eliminate the symptoms. If the patient suffers from fever and chills, the doctor prescribes antipyretics. The best option would be a series of ibuprofen, which not only relieves fever, but also has an anti-inflammatory effect.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs also eliminate pain and discomfort. They are used in the form of tablet forms and ointments, gels for external use. From this group use:

• Ibuprofen
• Movalis.
• Dicloberl.
• "Revmoxicam."

Ordinary analgesics (Analgin, Dexalgin) will also help relieve soreness, and if these two groups are ineffective, hormonal drugs (Hydrocortisone, Dexamethasone) are used.

Cytostatics are another group of drugs that are used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, however, the use of these medicines is not always advisable, therefore, they are prescribed individually in each clinical case. Representatives - Methotrexate, Cyclophosphamide.

In case of failure of standard treatment regimens, the use of specific antibodies is prescribed. This method is innovative in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Introduced antibodies counteract the production of active substances that cause the development of an inflammatory reaction.

Physiotherapy and exercise therapy

In parallel with drug therapy, physiotherapeutic methods are used:

• acupuncture;
• laser therapy;
• magnetotherapy;
• cryotherapy.

Physical therapy can be carried out only after stopping the acute stage of the disease, when there is no severe pain. Exercise therapy is carried out independently or in a group of patients with a similar condition.

Use the following exercises to restore lost joint function:

1. Rotational movements of the hand, straightening his hand and clenching his fingers into a fist.
2. Finger movements in horizontal or vertical projection.
3. The thumb touches the other fingers on the hand.
4. A small ball is rolled and squeezed in the palm of your hand.
5. Flexion and extensor movements in the elbow and knee joints.
6. Rotational movements of the shoulder and hip joints.
7. Mahi feet.
8. Squats
9. Walking on bent legs.

Alternative methods of treatment

Using exclusively traditional methods of therapy will not have the expected result. If the patient has decided to use ointments and other home-made preparations, then it is worth combining them with pharmacy drugs prescribed by a doctor.

There are several effective recipes that help relieve pain and alleviate the condition of the patient:

1. Pour two glasses of lilac buds with a glass of vodka or half diluted alcohol. Insist for 10 days in a cool dark place. The resulting infusion is ground in pathological zones twice a day for at least 2 weeks.
2. Large carrots are washed, peeled and rubbed on a fine grater. Turpentine and vegetable oil (5 drops each) are added there. The resulting mass is applied to the gauze section and fixed on the sore spot in the form of a compress. Perform the procedure at night at least 10 times. You can alternate with compresses and applications from aloe leaf juice.
3. A tablespoon of a dry string pour a liter of boiling water, boil over half an hour over low heat and strain. The resulting broth is added to the water for holding therapeutic baths.

Diet

Treatment for seronegative rheumatoid arthritis, reviews of which emphasize favorable prognoses, should include dietary correction. Patients should be limited to the following products:

• fatty;
• sweet
• smoked meats;
• pickled;
• citrus;
• dairy;
• pork.

A sufficient amount of fish and seafood, fresh vegetables and fruits, eggs, cereals should be included in the diet.

Unfortunately, seronegative rheumatoid arthritis cannot be completely cured. Patients have to fight the disease until the end of their lives. However, adherence to the advice of specialists, the regimen of the chosen treatment, diet will slow down the progression of the disease and create conditions for a full life.

The main point is the immediate appeal to a medical institution immediately after the first pathological symptoms and manifestations of the musculoskeletal system.