Will steroids affect my blood readings

[Lesi]

I saw my rheumy yesterday. She confirmed I have FM, however she said my lupus test was negative this time and my ANA Was only slightly raised so she has discharged me.

I forgot to tell her I was on steroids when my bloods were done. Does anyone know if steroids affect blood profile.

[Elle-26]

Hi Lesi, Many people say they do, however I would go back to your GP and ask them and say you have heard steroids can affect blood test results and you forgot to mention to your Rheuma that you were on them .... I had a negative ANA at the beginning of the year... many Drs go by this but its not concrete evidence as I told my Dermatologist ... I told her that many people have negative ANA yet still have Lupus ... she agreed ... and also the ANA can fluctuate depending on whether your immune system is active or dormant. Hope you get answers ... all the best -x-

[luppychick]

Are you saying steriods effects your positive lupus test.? What I know is no amount of tablets of any kind would change a result of a lupus test I have been on steroids for 5 years and my ANA is always high I think when you have the disease it's always lurking in the background and it never goes away.

Healing hugs Lesi

Luppychick

[Stephariffic in reply to luppychick]

You’re wrong, actually. An ANA test can fluctuate negatives & positives. You can have a positive ANA one time & have a negative a week, month, year later. Steroids ABSOLUTELY affect blood tests.

[senriki in reply to luppychick]

I have been steroids for 47yrs, steroids do effect your blood test results.

[marcie]

Yes indeed, ANA is only a sign of disease 'activity' NOT disease itself, the actual diagnosis!

So if it isn't showing positive then it means you may be in a remissive state, a good thing as opposed to a flare and inflammation... but that can also change over time, and the numbers with it.. and yes, cortisone subdues inflammatory activity and so the ANA could be negative or just showing @ 1:80, as would happen with any anti-inflammatory med.

Once you have a Dx don't sweat the lab numbers as they are there to show activity and comparisons.

I WAS with luppychick re once you have been dx'd generally it is there for life. However after 30 years of a lupus dx I have now been switched to an MCTD/overlap syndrome which includes lupus, scleroderma and polymyositis... so I don't think we can generalize on names of Dx as symptoms come and go and change, but I do believe as a general rule that you can't cure Lupus nor does it fizzle out, though as you age it does slwo down somewhat... then in my case other things got active :(... this is JMO

[digger1]

i also have fm and also ra but have all the signs of lupus but bloods always negative my rhuem says unless i have the positive result i cant be treated for lupus

[Lesi]

Thank you so much for all of your inputs, think next time I see my doc will maybe ask him ti repeat blood test xx