rheumatoid factor positive disease

Last reviewed 01/2023

This is a vast list that includes:

Joint diseases:

  • Sjogren's syndrome (90%)
  • rheumatoid arthritis (80%)
  • SLE (50%)
  • polymyositis/dermatomyositis (50%)
  • scleroderma/systemic sclerosis (30%)
  • mixed connective tissue disease
  • chronic juvenile arthritis

Chronic infections (low titres):

  • subacute bacterial endocarditis
  • leprosy
  • malaria
  • tuberculosis
  • syphilis
  • kala-azar

Miscellaneous

  • autoimmune chronic active hepatitis
  • fibrosing alveolitis
  • sarcoidosis
  • paraproteinaemia e.g. multiple myeloma, Waldenstrom's macroglobulinaemia
  • in elderly patients or in relatives of patients with rheumatoid arthritis