diagnostic testing for APS...

I have blood test every 90 days/per my Rheumatologist. APS and Unspecified Connective Tissue Disorder. Not sure which ones are for APS so I am including all: Any comments? Is evergthing covered?

ANA Titer

Anachoice Cascading Reflex

C- Reactive Protein

Comp. Metabolic Panel

CBC(includes Diff/PLT)

DNA ABS

Cardiolipin Antibody

[paddyandlin]

Hi Luisa,

Welcome to the group. I hope the below helps i am not sure but i will check and see what else i can find

Paddy

The blood tests for Hughes Syndrome have complicated names but are essentially simple and universally available through your doctor/GP. There are two tests – anticardiolipin antibodies and the confusingly named lupus anticoagulant.*

Screening test for Hughes Syndrome

Anticardiolipin Antibodies (aCL) YES sometimes referred to as Antiphospholipid

positive in 80% of cases

higher levels = higher risk of thrombosis

Lupus Anticoagulant (LA) YES Positive in 30-40% of cases

Cannot be used if patient is on warfarin

* The confusing term ‘lupus anticoagulant’ should be done away with. It is NOT a test for Lupus and is NOT an anticoagulant. But it is a historical term, and so far has stuck. Confusion is added to by the variety of clotting tests used in different laboratories with abbreviations including KCT, KCCT, DRVVT and so on. A topic best left to the haematologists.

Of these two tests, the first is far more important and more frequently positive – but because nature can be awkward, some patients have only one or other test positive – hence the need to test for both. Having said this, we do see some patients who appear to have Hughes Syndrome in whom both tests are negative.

[Hidden in reply to paddyandlin]

thank you