Emily

From my own experience yes you can have RA without your bloods showing inflammation.

I was diagnosed three years ago with RA but my Consultant thinks I have had it all my life. I kept on having "episodes" over the years where my joints would sieze up and I would be very unwell for weeks at a time but all blood tests returned normal and it was put down to a "virus". I now have very bad joint damage.

I believe you can be sero-negative with RA and I know there are members of this site who are, so perhaps they can give you more information. My Consultant did say he takes very little notice of blood tests and listens to the patient and the symptoms they present with.

I myself would suggest that your friend gets a second opinion and keeps on at his doctors to find an answer.

Take care

Jackie
x

Yes I was originally diagnosed as sero-negative but somewhere along the line became possitive.
I only found out that it had changed when I was asked to go onto rtx treatment and had read that it is not likely to be a success for patients who are sero-neg. I questioned having the ra factor and was told that yes, I did now have it all being at a low count.
My sister is struggling to get a possitive diagnosis after 2 yrs or so. She does not show inflamation or ra factor poss. Her reumatologist constantly tells her that he cannot diagnose ra without inflamation, but keeps reviewing her every 6mnths.
Anyway good luck with finding a way forward for your friend. Zena.