posted
I was just reading another post and saw this come up within its content. So I thought I would ask what the connection is between positive ANA and Lyme.
The poster had stated that they were incorrectly diagnosed with Lupus based on these positive test results.
My ANA ranges from moderate to low positive ALWAYS as does my RF. So for three years we kept running those same tests to rule out lupus.
During that period I ALWAYS also had a positive monospot (which is positive for a NEW or active ebv infection). Nobody ever chased that one down to explain it.
Anyway...what about lyme and coinfections causes a high ANA? Does the ANA go down to normal/negative when the lyme is treated?
-------------------- Tick bite in 2006, bullseye rash, treated with 2 rounds of 2 weeks of doxy. (once in 2006, once in 2009) Dx with chronic Lyme May 2011. LLMD April 2012, Treating with omnicef/zith Lots of supplements! Posts: 640 | From Connecticut | Registered: Apr 2011
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joalo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12752
posted
Up for input.
-------------------- Sick since January 1985. Misdiagnosed for 20 years. Tested CDC positive October 2005. Treating since April 2006. Posts: 3228 | From Somewhere west of the Mississippi | Registered: Aug 2007
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posted
I had a positive ANA when I was a teenager and had a classic bartonella rash. At the time no one knew what it was. Went to specialist to specialist. They told me it could be lupus
25 years later, I have chronic neurological lyme, bart, babs, you name it. Been treating for 3+ years, I think I am turning the corner.
I believe a positive ANA comes with lyme. Funny thing is, before I got real sick 4 years ago, My ANA was back to normal.
Sorry not much help
Posts: 298 | From usa | Registered: Aug 2009
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ktkdommer
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Member # 29020
posted
My ANA has been 1:640 for 11 years with a lupus misdiagnosis for 10. Once the immune system suffers from chronic infection, it can turn on itself as in any autoimmune disease.
My youngest is positive but we don't think too much of it.
-------------------- Things are never dull. After 3 fighting Lyme, 2 are in remission. Youngest is still sick, age 22. He has new diagnosed Chiari Malformation and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. Posts: 1366 | From Perrysburg, Ohio | Registered: Nov 2010
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posted
The ANA test can be positive due to heredity or b/c of Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
This test is neither here nor there in terms of diagnosing lupus or Lyme. I don't understand why in 2011 there is any weight given to this test whatsoever or even why it is still performed.
If you have lupus, the ANA level is not indicative of active infection -- your ANA could be low and you could still be in a lupus flare or you could be in remission from lupus and have an elevated ANA for example.
If lupus is suspected, an anti-DsDNA test is warranted along with C3 and C4 testing. A skin biopsy can be performed as well to negate/confirm the diagnosis. Biopsies of the liver and kidney might also be done to confirm the lupus dx.
I am not familiar with the monospot test. I learn something new every day here!
To ktkdommer's point, I do believe that untreated/under-treated TBD can lead to autoimmune issues. I hope that one day soon this is explored further.
-------------------- You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.'
---Eleanor Roosevelt Posts: 748 | From somewhere | Registered: May 2010
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Razzle
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Member # 30398
posted
There are many with Lyme who have elevated ANA's that returns to normal once the Lyme is treated adequately.
I have had an ANA as high as 1:320 but was always told I had "secondary lupus-like syndrome" by the non-LLMD's. My LL doctor tells me I have secondary Lupus, caused by Lyme. I hope the Lupus goes away when the Lyme is finally under better control.
-------------------- -Razzle Lyme IgM IGeneX Pos. 18+++, 23-25+, 30++, 31+, 34++, 39 IND, 83-93 IND; IgG IGeneX Neg. 30+, 39 IND; Mayo/CDC Pos. IgM 23+, 39+; IgG Mayo/CDC Neg. band 41+; Bart. (clinical dx; Fry Labs neg. for all coinfections), sx >30 yrs. Posts: 4166 | From WA | Registered: Feb 2011
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posted
"secondary lupus-like syndrome" and "secondary lupus" are terms I've never heard of (and I'm old LOL).
Razzle did your docs do an anti DsDNA test on you or C3/C4?
-------------------- You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.'
---Eleanor Roosevelt Posts: 748 | From somewhere | Registered: May 2010
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tick battler
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Member # 21113
posted
My practitioner told me that she sees elevated ANA from epstein barr virus. So I don't think it is a coincidence that you had a positive mono test. Mono is associated with EBV. Many get high virus loads when infected with lyme due to immune issues.
My son's ANA was high when he also had EBV. Now his ANA is normal and the EBV is resolved as well!
tickbattler
Posts: 1763 | From Malvern, PA | Registered: Jul 2009
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posted
Those with positive EBV, do they treat the EBV separately from the Lyme or (again..sorry) does the EBV return to normal (goodness I hope so...feel like I have had active monon for 3 years or more) with Lyme treatment.
My LLND has not really addressed these questions in the 2 plus months that I have been treated...so I still don't understand coinfections.. and which get treated.
Thanks for the input
It is really appreciated
-------------------- Tick bite in 2006, bullseye rash, treated with 2 rounds of 2 weeks of doxy. (once in 2006, once in 2009) Dx with chronic Lyme May 2011. LLMD April 2012, Treating with omnicef/zith Lots of supplements! Posts: 640 | From Connecticut | Registered: Apr 2011
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tick battler
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posted
Our practitioner makes her own homeopathic remedies using her electrodermal screening machine. This is how she primarily treats viruses. She can put the frequencies for the specific virus or bacteria she finds into a homeopathic remedy. She also uses Cumanda from Nutramedix for viruses.
My husband is currently battling a bad case of mono and she found his spleen and liver are inflamed. She gave him the remedy for it and also put him on wheat grass tablets called Stress Release. He takes 25 of those tablets per day! He seems to be slowly getting better.
You might look to see if there is anyone in your area who does this. My practitioner uses the EDS 2000. There are other similar machines called the Asyra machines. You might google both names and see what comes up. I would also google "electrodermal screening" and "bioenergetic testing."
Another practitioner we go to uses other antiviral products such as Total VirX and monolaurin and lauriciden. I think you can also purchase homeopathic remedies specific to EBV.
EBV is very contagious and it is easy to get reinfected. So perhaps if you are on some antiviral or homeopathic treatments for it, any reinfections might not be as serious for you.
As for coinfections, I feel it is important to treat as many as you can at once. What are you taking now? And which infections do you think you have? Have you read Dr. Burrescano's guidelines? That will give you a good idea about the symptoms of each coinfection so you can try to figure it out. Most of the testing is not very accurate so you often need to go on symptoms.
Hope this helps!
tickbattler
Posts: 1763 | From Malvern, PA | Registered: Jul 2009
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momintexas
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posted
Does a positive DsDNA test always mean Lupus or can Lyme & Friends cause a positive result as well?
Posts: 1408 | From Tx | Registered: Nov 2009
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Razzle
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posted
quote:Originally posted by AlanaSuzanne: "secondary lupus-like syndrome" and "secondary lupus" are terms I've never heard of (and I'm old LOL).
Razzle did your docs do an anti DsDNA test on you or C3/C4?
Yeah, I had never heard of them either before I was diagnosed...and when I asked what the Lupus was secondary to, they couldn't answer. Well, now I know it is Lyme/coinfections.
Yes, all the splits including anti-DsDNA are negative, C3 is normal, and C4 is a tad high. My Allergy/Immunologist (not Lyme-Literate) says the high C4 just means I'm in some kind of state of inflammation - and Chronic Lyme causes inflammation...
-------------------- -Razzle Lyme IgM IGeneX Pos. 18+++, 23-25+, 30++, 31+, 34++, 39 IND, 83-93 IND; IgG IGeneX Neg. 30+, 39 IND; Mayo/CDC Pos. IgM 23+, 39+; IgG Mayo/CDC Neg. band 41+; Bart. (clinical dx; Fry Labs neg. for all coinfections), sx >30 yrs. Posts: 4166 | From WA | Registered: Feb 2011
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posted
I have read the information...I feel like I have syptoms of Bart but all of them overlap a bit. I have a lot of cognitive/neuro symptoms...are these specific to any one of the coinfections?
It's amazing that others have been on the lupus diagnosis/misdiagnosis track too. 3 1/2 years of running the same dang tests! I know it has been longer for many but it's also good to know I am not the only one.
Wish I could help you guys out! I feel so ignorant in all of this compared to everyone else.
-------------------- Tick bite in 2006, bullseye rash, treated with 2 rounds of 2 weeks of doxy. (once in 2006, once in 2009) Dx with chronic Lyme May 2011. LLMD April 2012, Treating with omnicef/zith Lots of supplements! Posts: 640 | From Connecticut | Registered: Apr 2011
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