significance of anti dsdna antibodies

[thekeys46]

I haven’t seen a rheumatologist for 2 years. The last time I saw him he started me on metoject and said he wanted to see me again in 8 weeks.

3 months prior to this I was seen by the rheumatology nurse. She started asking me if I had had any miscarriages. I had 3 early ones and also had preeclampsia during my 2 pregnancies. I had hypertension from the age of 29. She said she would test me for antiphospholoid syndrome.

One blood test came back positive and I had another 12 weeks later. I was never told the result of that blood test.

I had a mild heart attack in November 2020 and a stent put into my LAD artery.

From august 2024 I started getting angina symptoms again. Angiogram in October 24 was apparently normal with some mild to moderate atheroma. Microvascular angina was suggested and meds increased. January 25 the angina symptoms had increased. A cardiologist again increased meds, ranolazine and isosorbide mononitrate. This didn’t really help.

Towards the end of February I was getting angina at rest not helped by GTN spray. 25th February I awoke with chest discomfort. I had 2 lots of spray. Later in the morning I had chest pain and went to A/E where I sat for over an hour before being triaged. 10 minutes later I had an ECG and bloods. Everything changed and I was rushed up to the Cath lab. I was having a STEMI. The angiogram showed that I had thrombus in my stent. This was unblocked. 0.1% of people who have a stent end up having a clot in it. Just wondering if having raised anti Dsdna antibodies causes accelerated atherosclerosis. Scared as there will be a chance of it happening again and maybe then I won’t be so lucky.

My GP referred me back to the rheumatologist 8 months ago as I have dry eyes and mouth and am concerned about Sjrogens.

I was originally diagnosed with RA and scleritis. I came off of hydroxychloroquine in 2016 and subsequently developed round lesions on my shins. It was decided that this was psoriasis and my diagnosis was changed to psoriatic arthritis. I recently had another biopsy on these lesions and they are not caused by psoriasis. I am awaiting a dermatology appointment to discuss them.

At the back of my mind I keep wondering if I actually have lupus.

I also have sinus tachycardia caused by a conduction disorder, hypothyroidism and type 2 diabetes.

Sorry for my long post but it has helped to write it down.

[Star13]

One blood test came back positive and I had another 12 weeks later. I was never told the result of that blood test.

So do you have APS or not cos it sounds very much like you do! Are you on an anticoagulant? If so which one and what is the dose?

[thekeys46 in reply to Star13]

Thank you for your response.

I am on an anticoagulant now. Prasugrel 10mg for a year plus I’ve been taking 75mg Asprin since November 2020.

I have tried contacting the rheumatology department.

Told I will have an appointment at the end of the year as one rheumatologist has left and so has his locum.

I managed to speak to the rheumatology nurse and tried to ask her about my Dsdna levels etc and she sort of poo pooed it saying that last July they had gone down to 56 from 74 before I started on metoject so they were ok.

[Star13 in reply to thekeys46]

So basically your on a couple of antiplatelets, however it’s still important to know what the result was to your last APS test because if you are considered to have it then with your clotting history you may be better on something like warfarin.

Has anyone suggested you see a heamatologist? If I was in your place that’s where I would be heading.