gogs wrote:Hi Louise,
Anti-CCP is another marker for RA, and whether its the positive RF (rheumatoid factor) or the positive CCP factor,
either will eventually produce erosive joint damage. It is just the way they use their terminology in laboratories.
Some will use the word erosive,
RA is erosive, it will eventually damage joints sooner or later because it's a progressive disease.
So please don't think you have something else to contend with.
Gogs x
Not all RA is erosive....I'm anti-CCP positive non-erosive RA and mine has luckily stayed non-erosive for several years now so although I get pain,inflammation and flares still there is little joint damage. My consultant says that there's now a good chance it will stay that way and not get erosive as I've responded well to the drugs. She explained to me that you can have any combination of sero-positive/negative, anti-CCP positive/negative and erosive/non-erosive and whilst there are theories about what type of RA each combination will produce it is still immensely individual so most important thing is to work out how it effects you rather than assume that you'll fit the theories.