posted
I am currently being treated for Lyme by an LLMD.
I have never had a positive lyme test but am being treated anyway. LLLMD ran some other tests.
Everything came back negative except for a positive ANA screening test. Antinuclear antibodies were 1:320 with a speckled nuclear pattern.
All further SLE testing came out within normal range.
Can this be indicative of lyme? Should I be worried that I have to deal with some other illnes on top of everything else?
Still waiting to hear back from my LLMD.
Any feedback on similar experiences would be helpful.
JT
Posts: 72 | From Massachusetts | Registered: Feb 2009
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Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
Yes, Yes, Yes. Igenex testing is in order. I was
tested for RA, SLE, as well as several others. It
was my only indication of infection and to doc not
an indication as he said it could be anything. I
showed him what it was. Lyme.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
PS I did antibiotic for 3 months before going off for 2 weeks and testing then. I got a positive then.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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posted
I had a low positive ANA w/ speckle pattern before being dx w/ Lyme. Rhumy was looking for Lupus. Said the results were not strong enough to dx & treat for Lupus- THANK GOD! It would have been steroids.
Just had another ANA ran after 1 1/2 years of aggressive Lyme treatment- having circulation problems and LLMD was checking for inflammation markers. ANA is now normal, my Sed Rate is lower as well- good news-shows treatment is helping with test results!
Jill E.
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9121
posted
I also had a high ANA with speckled pattern, so of course the rheumies looked at Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Scleroderma, etc.
I had a CDC-positive Lyme and Ehrlichia test so there was no issue in my mind - plus a rash. But of course the local doctors wouldn't believe it.
Anyway, many years ago I developed Hashimoto's thyroiditis, so the rheumies finally decided my ANA was due to Hashimoto's. Many Lyme patients have thyroid issues.
I have not had the ANA checked in a long time, and I've been in Lyme treatment for five years (I have numerous coinfections) but just passing along that what you are saying sounds like it can be consistent with Lyme.
Jill
-------------------- If laughter is the best medicine, why hasn't stand-up comedy cured me? Posts: 1773 | From San Diego | Registered: Apr 2006
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kelmo
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 8797
posted
My daughter had a pos ANA, as well. It is now negative after several years of constant treatment.
Get a Western Blot, with co-infections.
Posts: 2903 | From AZ | Registered: Feb 2006
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Shosty
Unregistered
posted
An ANA of 1:320 is not very high. My ANA was 1:5120 (speckled). I tested CDC positive for Lyme on every Western Blot (Quest as well as Igenex) but after 6 years of antibiotics, my ANA has gone up, not down. I also get very sick in the sun, and had a skin biopsy showing lupus in my skin.
Things are complicated, definitive labels can be elusive, and you are not necessarily going to get an easy or clear answer, until some time goes by.
Steroids are not always the first choice of rheumatologists. Often, Plaquenil is tried first, and many LLMD's use that too.
On the other hand, after many years of considering our daughter's illness to be Lyme, and unsuccessful treatment with antibiotics, she is now diagnosed with lupus, gets sick in the sun, has Raynaud's, etc. and guess what finally helped her headaches and seizures? Steroids.
There is some cross-reactivity between Lyme and lupus testing, but also the other way around:lupus can cause a false positive Lyme Elisa, anyway. There is not definite information that I have ever found on the effect on Western Blot. One criteria for lupus is a positive syphilis test, and syphilis, like Lyme, is a spirochete. Interesting.
Dekrator48
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18239
posted
I also have a positive ANA with a speckled patttern.
My LLMD says he sees this frequently because it is just an inflammatory marker.
-------------------- The fibromyalgia I've had for 32 years was an undiagnosed Lyme symptom.
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future". -Jeremiah 29:11 Posts: 6076 | From Pennsylvania, USA | Registered: Nov 2008
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Shosty
Unregistered
posted
Also, totally healthy individuals sometimes have positive ANA's.
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Pinelady
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 18524
posted
It may describe it further such as smooth muscle.
While ANA may be found in healthy individuals it is not normal.
-------------------- Suspected Lyme 07 Test neg One band migrating in IgG region unable to identify.Igenex Jan.09IFA titer 1:40 IND IgM neg pos 31 +++ 34 IND 39 IND 41 IND 83-93 + DX:Neuroborreliosis Posts: 5850 | From Kentucky | Registered: Dec 2008
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