Diagnosis

[Cyprusgal]

Is it possible to have a positive Ds-Dna with lots of symptoms and all other bloods come back negative and still have Lupus???? Sorry if I am going round in circles with this, it is so bloody confusing everything been negative! thanks in advance

[Hidden]

Lab tests for SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus,

labtestsonline.org.uk/condi...

[Melba1]

Yes, has your rheumy not diagnosed you? DsDNA is the most specific blood test for lupus, if you have a positive anti dsDNA it is highly likely lupus especially with relevant symptoms. Are they not diagnosing you because other bloods are negative? Do you mean ANA? That can be negative in about 8% of people and dsDNA ‘top trumps’ ANA by far. Are you feeling really poorly? Have you got any treatment? X

[Cyprusgal in reply to Melba1]

Yes, she has on the ds-dna result and symptoms but shes run loads more blood tests and these are all coming back negative ANA and all the rest of them that fall along with these. My last bloods that have come in are my IGG low levels, IGA in range but at the low end, IGM one test under range but the others in range but low. No treatment started yet until all the bloods are in so I am a bit confused 😕 thanks

[Melba1 in reply to Cyprusgal]

Some drs are very bloodwork focused but with dsDNA and symptoms it seems a bit strange for her to be waiting for other results before starting any treatment. Lots of people have lots of negative test results, especially in the early days. It’s really how you feel that counts too. Hope you get treatment soon x

[Cyprusgal in reply to Melba1]

She thought I had sjogrens along with the Lupus and been ruling out all other autoimmune diseases to see what treatment I need going forward. I wondered why I had a positive ds-dna but nothing positive in the other tests it's confusing 😕 thanks for your reply 😊

[KayHimm in reply to Cyprusgal]

That is a good question for your doctor. Negative ANA with a positive anti-DNA tests is, I think, highly unusual. But they know how to interpret these things. There are antibodies like Ro and cardiolipin that can cross react and make the ANA negative. Your doctor will explain what she is thinking when all the results are in. It is the whole picture they look out at. It sounds like they have suspected autoimmune disease and are still running tests.

K

[Hidden in reply to Cyprusgal]

For more info on Sjögren’s syndrome try:

bssa.uk.net/pdfs/informatio...

Note that Sjögren’s is a “cousin” to lupus as described by Prof Graham Hughes of APS/Hughes syndrome- anti phospholipid syndrome.

Regards

[KayHimm in reply to Cyprusgal]

Maybe this will help. In a discussion among doctors, your situation came up. The best answer seemed to be that it is theoretically impossible to have a negative ANA and positive anti DNA test. The anti-DNA is part of the ANA screen. But the ANA can be falsely negatively. It seems when this happens it is assumed to be a problem with the test. There are two ways to test ANA. Let’s see what your doctor says and what your second tests say. The anti-DNA seems to be taken as the accurate one in this rare case. Try not to focus on the labs too much. The important thing is getting treatment.

K

[Cyprusgal in reply to KayHimm]

I am not sure if the tests she ordered were specifically relating to other reumalogical diseases especially sjogrens and they have come back negative does a ANA cover everything under immune diesase? What would it comes under on a blood test results sheet, would post the results but not sure how and if you are allowed on here. She said I had Lupus from the ds-dna test so not sure if she would do any other testing for that?!

[KayHimm in reply to Cyprusgal]

Rheumatologists do an array of tests. For them it is pretty standard. The ANA is a screening. There are sub-sérologies that are sometimes done automatically if the ANA is positive. I have always had what is a called a lupus panel in the US. You do not need to worry about your doctor neglecting to do a test. You can certainly post the results. Just take your name off the heading.

Also important are your symptoms. You must have signs of an inflammatory illness or they would not be giving you a likely diagnosis.

K

[Cyprusgal in reply to KayHimm]

I have added a picture she went on my positive ds-dna and my symptoms and said lupus then run all these other tests to check for sjogrens and other autoimmune 😕 thanks for your replies

[KayHimm]

Are you sure your ANA was not positive? Just asking because it was not repeated on here. I don’t see anything unusual about your negative tests. There are only two auto-antibodies specific to lupus. You have one of them. Good the others are negative. People can have over-lap and the tests can help to see that.

K

[Cyprusgal in reply to KayHimm]

That explains my tests then I was looking for the ANA s not there and thought these were it, because I thought she might do it again but she didn't because of the positive ds-dna, these other tests were to see if I had a overlap, I understand now and was getting so confused about them. I am just waiting for treatment to start now, thanks so much

[KayHimm in reply to Cyprusgal]

I think that is what confused you. She had enough information with your initial tests and your symptoms to make a diagnosis. There are no tests here that would negate that diagnosis. The tests that are often positive in Sjogrens are negative. But she will explain all of this to you. She will order other tests if she thinks it is important.

Glad you feel you understand.

K

[AimeeA]

Ah, lupus is such a strange beast!

It can manifest in so many different ways in different people, with various combinations of symptoms and lab results. No two people will have the exact same combination of lab results showing positive or negative.

And lab results can vary greatly based on whether it is flaring and active at the time or less active.

It also can have many other co-morbid problems/diagnosis like Sjorgren's and fibromyalgia.

So don't be confused because there is no one exact lab result for all people. You can be diagnosed as having lupus with both positive and negative results for various tests, because it is based on your own individual body. That is one reason it is often hard to get a diagnosis, because there are so many factors involved.