Range is 0-9. Mine was 47. All other markers on the panel were within normal range. RA Latex Turbid was on the high end of normal...mine was 13. Range is 0 - 13.9.
Any input you can share?
Also, my B12 was 1123 (normal is 211-911). I think this points to MTHFR, of which I inherited 2 genes (homozygous). Any other reason for high B12?
My Homocysteine is normal.
Zinc is low again (likely due to KPU).
Thanks. Tammy
Posted by AlanaSuzanne (Member # 25882) on :
Are you referring to anti DS-DNA?
Posted by WhitneyS (Member # 25666) on :
If you mean an ANA, its pretty common with Lyme Disease and often people's levels go back to normal once in remission.
Posted by AlanaSuzanne (Member # 25882) on :
ANA can be elevated from Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and high ANA levels can also be inherited from what I have been told.
This is NOT a particularly reliable test nor is it specific for auto-immune diseases like lupus.
The anti DS-DNA test is another story.
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
On the report it says Anti-DNA (DS) Ab Qn.
Right now I'm feeling afraid to know more. Feeling horrendous, terrible fear.
I hope there are some comforting answers/possibilities out there.
Posted by momintexas (Member # 23391) on :
I also have an elevated ANA and the Anti-DNA (DS).
I'm still not convinced I have Lupus. Maybe I'm being naive even though my test has come back positive 5 times now.
My immunologist thinks it's really Lyme but isn't sure. He feels there is a lot of crossover with Lyme, Lupus, and Myco P.
I am not following the typical Lupus treatment and am doing fine.
We rerun my numbers every 6 months to watch for any elevations.
I should also add that I am CDC positive for Lyme. Twice.
I really don't know what to think about it and have to just go more by my symptoms and how I feel.
Try not to be afraid (I know that's easier said than done). I think the Lyme just gets in and skews so many test results.
Posted by cocowyo (Member # 36286) on :
I have mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) which is an overlap of lupus, scleroderma and polymyositis.
I have had two dsDNA tests. The first was positive and the second was borderline positive. I was diagnosed with MCTD instead of lupus because my RNP was positive.
Here are my thoughts:
1. It could be a false positive. When I got the first positive, my rheumatologist ran a second test at a different lab because he had seen a lot of false positives recently.
2. It could be drug-induced. If it is, stopping the medication will stop the lupus. Here's a link to more info. I noticed there were 3 antibiotics on the list of drugs that can induce lupus. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug-induced_lupus_erythematosus
3. If it is lupus, you're already ahead of the game because you're already being treated for Lyme and co. I believe everyone with an autoimmune disease should be assessed/treated for Lyme and co.
4. If it is lupus, the "gold standard" and first line of treatment is Plaquenil, which is prescribed for many of us with Lyme and co. Coincidence? I think not.
5. Plaquenil has been a miracle drug for my pain and fatigue. If you haven't tried it already, it just might be a great treatment for you and you could start feeling significantly better.
6. Lupus can be mild to severe and every case is different. It is possible to lead a reasonably normal life with proper treatment. I have been getting excellent treatment for my autoimmune disease from my LLMD and have been feeling good most of the time.
Posted by cocowyo (Member # 36286) on :
I have a homozygous MTHFR mutation too. I think you're right about it causing your elevated B12.
I also think you're right about KPU causing your zinc issues.
So sorry you are having so many issues.
Posted by lyme987 (Member # 22148) on :
I had a positive ANA at 16 when I had a classic bartonella rash. This was 25 years ago, I had no symtoms just the rash which covered by back and the positive ANA
No one then what I had, went to many doctors who gave me a lupus diagnosis
Obviously, I have no lupus, but I crashed 5 years ago, with lyme , bart, babs, erlichia, and everything else
I had the positive ANA for about 10 years( until I was about 25) I was never treated for any tick bourne disease then and the rash went away
I don't have any autoimmune diseases, only the great big LYME dISEASE anad CO
Posted by Tammy N. (Member # 26835) on :
Thanks so much momintexas, cocowyo and lyme987. I was too afraid to even come back and read my own thread. I was worried someone would say this Anti-DNA test was definitive. I'm feeling calmer and less freaked out. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. In the end it is what it is, regardless of the name we give it, I guess.
coco - My local LLMD suggested plaquenil. I was afraid because of possible vision problems. Have you had any issues?
Thanks again.
Posted by cocowyo (Member # 36286) on :
I have had vision issues, but they are very common in autoimmune diseases and it's hard to tell what is from the disease itself, what is from Plaquenil (if any) and what is from bad genes.
My family has notoriously bad eyes - glasses before high school, macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts, etc.
The main issue I have is blurry vision, which two opthalmologists have assured me is because the MCTD is causing dry eyes. My retinas look fine.
Also, I have had to get glasses more frequently than I used to. I used to be able to wait 2 years, but I only made it 10 months this last time and 12 months the time before that.
Both opthalmologists I saw said the serious problems caused by plaquenil are very rare and come on slowly. One also told me he has only seen a few cases in his career, and he's not a young guy. He said most of the cases were in elderly women who had been on Plaquenil for decades.
If I remember correctly, they used to prescribe much higher doses of plaquenil, but the lower doses they prescribe now are safer.
I feel comfortable with my choice to stay on plaquenil and be diligent about my eye exams. Plaquenil helps so much with my pain and fatigue and, ironically, it also helps my dry eyes by suppressing the MCTD.
The other factor for me is I can't take methotrexate, which is the second drug of choice for MCTD and lupus. I have a gene mutation that makes me more susceptible to methotrexate toxicity.