posted
I was just wondering if anybody has elevated ANA levels, or has done so in the past.
The infectious disease doctor I saw recenty has referred me to a rheumatologist as apparently my ANA's were slightly elevated on some previous bloowork done previously before I started treatment. I think they have come back normal now.
Want to rule out Lupus, but I think its just as a precaution.
-------------------- Sx Start Jan 08 (test neg, but herxing)Susp Lyme, Bart + Babs??
ABX Doxy 400mg + Amox 1g Jun - Sep 08 Rifampin 600mg + Biaxin 1000mg Tinidazole 1000mg/day - Sep 08 to June 08
Currently taking Salt/C 15g (himalayan salt)
85-90% better Posts: 231 | From Australia | Registered: May 2008
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bettyg
Unregistered
posted
hi kelly,
if you go to top and click on search,
type in ANA medical subject line any date leave membership no. blank; click search
read all posts/replies ... many of us have had POSITIVE ANAs.
me 3-4 times for lupus but NEVER treated and JUST MISDIAGNOSED! good luck!
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Shosty
Unregistered
posted
My ANA was just 1:5120 (Normal is below 1:40). I also have a skin biopsy showing autoimmune activity, which could be lupus or dermatomyositis.I also get sick in the sun.
To me, the label really doesn't matter, and I accept that I won't be able to figure this out for a long time.
Lyme can trigger autoimmunity. Lyme and other infections can raise ANA. Some perfectly healthy people also have a positive ANA (low though). Even with true lupus, there is no correlation between ANA levels and illness, although many say that once the Lyme is treated, their ANA's go down.
Mine has been very high after years of treatment. I meet many of the lupus criteria (look up the list). But the ANA is the only positive rheumatoid lab, so I still doubt it.
If you take Plaquenil to make an antibiotic work better for Lyme, you are covered, because that is what rheumatologists would prescribe.
Some rheumatologists give antibiotics for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis (not mainstream, admittedly) on the theory that ALL autoimmune illness is triggered by bacteria or viruses (mycoplasma is another culprit).
Again, it is not necessary to get hung up on labels, and rheumatologists deal in uncertainties. The only problem with most of them is, they don't include chronic Lyme in their realm of mysteries.
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disturbedme
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 12346
posted
Yes, my husband's ANA is elevated, as well as elevated liver enzymes.
-------------------- One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar. ~ Helen Keller
My Lyme Story Posts: 2965 | From Land of Confusion (bitten in KS, moved to PA, now living in MD) | Registered: Jun 2007
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A positive ANA is not enough to rule in or rule out lupus. And, for those with lupus, ANA titers do not necessarily correlate to severity of disease either.
You can have a positive ANA due to Hashimoto's thyroiditis or any other autoimmune disease. A positive ANA can also be inherited, and there could be nothing wrong with a person.
If you are ruling out lupus (which should absolutely be ruled out, due to possible kidney, heart, CNS involvement), please make sure that your doctor runs the following tests, at a minimum: blood chemistries, anti-dsDNA, anti-phospholipid antibodies, anti-cardiolipin antibodies, C3 and C4 (complement levels) as well as a urinalysis.
And, not to throw in yet another monkey wrench, there are ANA negative cases of lupus too.
Lyme Disease is serious and has justifiably become known as "the great imitator" as we all know.
But lupus is a serious disease and not something to be underestimated either.
And, yes, plaquenil (a very old drug) is prescribed to many dx'ed with lupus and is also given in conjunction with abx for lyme by many LLMDs.
Plaquenil kills (I believe, but don't quote me the cyst form of LD and also helps with symptoms of LD.
My daughter, dx'ed with LD, is on minocycline and plaquenil. We have a strong autoimmune disease history in the family, including lupus.
I was very hesitant about her taking the abx minocycline, b/c of the remote, but real, possibility of developing DILE (drug induced lupus). Our LLMD said that plaquenil would dampen any tendency towards that kind of reaction.
Please keep all that in mind. As you pursue possible LD and lupus diagnoses and treatments, (and the docs are scratching their heads), perhaps you can convince someone that taking both minocycline and plaquenil would be a good idea to cover both possibilities.
Good luck!
Posts: 214 | From where ticks flourish | Registered: Dec 2007
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kelmo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8797
posted
My daughter had an elevated ANA for a couple of years. It just recently tested negative.
Posts: 2903 | From AZ | Registered: Feb 2006
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the cyst form of LD and also helps with symptoms of LD. 
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