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How do you know if you may have lupus if your ana was negative?
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
There is no definitive test for lupus. 3%-5% of people with lupus will have a negative ANA, especially if they are taking a medication like prednisone that suppresses the immune system.
A diagnosis of lupus is based on history, symptoms, a variety of tests and process of elmination. Rheumatologists are the specialists who have the advance training to make this often tricky diagnosis. Google the American College of Rheumatology to find one.
Wiki User
∙ 10y ago
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Can you test negative for lupus but still have it?
There is no definitive test for lupus. It is possible that some standard tests may come back negative, but the patient does indeed have lupus. A diagnosis of lupus is based on history, symptoms, and a variety of lab and imaging tests. A rheumatologist is the type of doctor who has the specialized training to make the diagnosis.
What does ANA positive homogeneous pattern mean?
ANA stands for anti nuclear antibodies. 10 million Americans have a positive ANA. 1.5 million Americans have lupus. Lupus presents with a speckled pattern not a homogeneous pattern. A positive ANA means you may have an autoimmune disease. however many people with a positive ANA have no active disease at all. The older you are, the more likely you are to have a positive ANA.
What is the significance of elevated rheumatoid factor and positive ANA?
10 million Americans have a positive ANA or antinuclear antibody test 1.5 million have a form of lupus. Of all those lupus patients, about 5% will have a negative ANA. The ANA titer is not directly linked to the level of disease activity in lupus. The ANA is just one of a variety of tests used in the difficult process of diagnosing this disease. In addition to a positive, the pattern seen under immunofluorescence is significant. A positive ANA coupled with a speckled pattern is more indicative of lupus than a homogeneous pattern. Lupus is diagnosed based on medical history, symptoms, a wide variety of laboratory tests of which the ANA is just one, and after ruling out other disease that lupus often imitates.
What blood test tube is used to test for lupus?
A variety of blood tests are used to help diagnose lupus but there is no single marker. Examination of blood cells (red, white, platelets) is usually performed. Lupus patients may be anemic, have low white counts, or be low on platelets. A metabolic panel will be done to rule out other diseases or conditions that have symptoms similar to lupus. Sedimentation rate, CRP and ferratin tests will reveal inflammation inside the body. FANA ( fluoresecnt antinuclear antibody), anti double stranded DNA. anti Smith, LE prep, and other autoantibody screenings may be performed. Tests for antiphospholipid antibody syndrome may also be performed. There is no definitive test. 10 million Americans have a positive ANA, but only about 1.5 million have lupus. Of the 1.5 million people with lupus 95-98% will have a negative ANA. The other tests present the same problems. If a person has a positive antiSmith then they do have lupus. But a large percentage of lupus patients do not have this antibody. All in all, there are 118 autoantibodies that may or may not be present.
Do lupus antibodies come and go?
Yes, lupus antibodies can *come and go*. Usually antibodies remain present in the patient, but they may be more difficult to find in a blood test. It is possible to have lupus and have negative antibodies.
What does an elevated ANA test mean?
This is from a web.. i just got a positive ANA test myself, been researching like crazy to figure out what it could be..http://arthritis.about.com/od/diagnostic/a/ana.htmTypes of AntibodiesIn order to understand the ANA (antinuclear antibody) test, it is first important to understand different types of antibodies.Antibodies are proteins, produced by white blood cells, which normally circulate in the blood to defend against foreign invaders such as bacteria, viruses, and toxins.Autoantibodies, instead of acting against foreign invaders as normal antibodies do, attack the body's own cells.http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/ana/test.html#whatANA shows up on indirect immunofluorescence as fluorescent patterns in cells that are fixed to a slide that is evaluated under a microscope. Different patterns are associated with a variety of autoimmune disorders. Some of the more common patterns include:Homogenous (diffuse) - associated with SLE and mixed connective tissue diseaseSpeckled - associated with SLE, Sjogren's syndrome, scleroderma, polymyositis, rheumatoid arthritis, and mixed connective tissue diseaseNucleolar - associated with scleroderma and polymyositisOutline pattern (peripheral) -associated with SLE
Can arthuritis cause lupus?
i have not heard that arthritis can cause lupus but it is a common symptom of lupus. SLE causes are not yet know but is queried to be caused by genes, UV light and virul transmission, though i believe the latter may be triggers for the former.
Which percentage of children born to mothers with lupus will get lupus as well?
20 percent of people with lupus will have a parent or sibling who already has lupus or may develop lupus.
What can lupus disorder do to a developing child?
A woman who has lupus and is pregnant may have a child with neonatal lupus or may have a totally healthy child. Babies with neonatal lupus may have the disease resolve in a few months or they may have congenital heart block, requiring the installation of a pace maker to regulate the heart beat.
How is lupus contacted?
Lupus is not contracted. Lupus develops. A person cannot catch lupus because it is not an infectious disease and it is not caused by any pathogen. The exact cause of lupus is not understood. At this point in time, scientists do know there is a genetic component but it is not directly inherited. If you have a first degree relative with lupus your chance of developing the disease is only 10% greater than the normal population. People who are genetically predisposed to develop lupus may or may not develop the disease. A trigger is needed to "turn on" the autoimmune response. Triggers include sunlight, cigarette smoke, and stress. Others are suspected.
How is lupus diagnosed?
To have lupus a patient must have four out of eleven abnormalities from a list established by the American Rheumatism Association. These abnormalities are:1. Malar rash2. Discoid rash3. Photosensitivity4. Mucosal ulcers5. Serositis6. Arthritis7. Renal disorders8. Neurological disorder9. Haematological disorder10. Immunologic disorder11. Anti-Nuclear Antibody The American College of Rheumatology established these 11 criteria as a means of determining whether or not a patient qualifies to enter lupus clinical trials. In the process of diagnosing lupus, these are helpful but not absolute, some criteria carrying more weight than others. For example, a kidney biopsy that confirms lupus nephritis determines a diagnosis of lupus whether or not any of the other 11 criteria are present. A skin biopsy that confirms cutaneous lupus is all that is needed to make that diagnosis as well. Lupus is diagnosed based on these steps and information: # Medical history # Symptoms # Wide variety of lab tests # After other disorders have been ruled out It should be noted that 10 million Americans have a positive Antinuclear antibody titer (ANA) but only 1.5 million have lupus. Of that 1.5 million with lupus, 5% will have a negative ANA titer. This, according to Daniel Wallace, MD in The Lupus Book.
What is a hematology lab test ANA for?
ANA or Antinuclear Antibody is a test that helps detect autoimmune disorders in the body. This is usually done to diagnose systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE.
