Hi,

my wife was recently dignosed as having reactive arthritis for the past 30 years or so. She is hla-b27 positive, but (at least in the last few years) she has not had an appreciable sedimentation rate or c-reactive protein level. He rheumatologist maintains that reactive arthritis can be present (certainly in its chronic form) with negative sedimentation rate and crp. The diagnosis was based on the fact that my wife has inflammed joints in her hands and wrists (by x-ray and examination), the absence of osteoarthrits (osteophytes) and the fact that she is hla-b27 positive. I, on the other hand, am not that sure. Dr.'s sometimes feel compelled to a diagnosis when there may not be one.

My wife is in her mid 50's, has pain flares (especially in the last few months) of many joints - which she describes as "hot" and achy. She has had a lifelong spinal condition leading to degenretive disc disease which is felt due to scoliosis that she had as a teenager.

Has anyone heard of someone having reactive arthritis but not showing any elevated sedimentaion rate or c-reactive protein? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.