Positive ANA

[lambuth_eagle]

Does PA cause a positive ANA test result? I had two positive results back in 2018 but the man negative in 2021 and April 2022. I had labs done last week due to some symptoms I’ve been having and my ANA came back positive. Odd thing is there were several labs listed for the ANA patters but all came back listed as TNP (test not performed). I wonder why they wouldn’t run those if I had a positive ANA??

For reference, my neurological symptoms started in May 2021 and I was diagnosed with PA in November 2021. Began injections in October 2022 and doing great with every three day injections.

[jade_s]

I have been wondering the same thing but i have no insight. I also haven't looked at the literature. All my antibodies for the various disorders I have always come back negative or in range, except ANA comes back weekly positive!

[Nackapan]

Usually s positive tedt triggers more tests as seemingky part of the picture .

When older andcwell you can get a positive test .

I know referrsla to rheumatology are based on a positive ana test with a certain clinical picture .

Im interested to know more too

[jade_s]

First, yes I believe normally they should have run the subsequent tests. What was your titre? Maybe it wasn't high enough?

I tried to search for info on cross reactivity & while many papers say it can happen, i couldn't find any details. Turns out wikipedia has some info en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant... . I stopped searching after that though it would be useful to check out the references (will do if i find time).

Do you have thyroid issues or RA?

Scroll down to "ANA test" then the "sensitivity" section :

Some ANAs appear in several types of disease, resulting in lower specificity of the test. For example, IgM-rheumatoid factor (IgM-RF) have been shown to cross-react with ANA giving falsely positive immunofluorescence.[63] Positive ANA as well as anti-DNA antibodies have been reported in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease.[64][65] ANA can have a positive test result in up to 45% of people with autoimmune thyroid conditions or rheumatoid arthritis and up to 15% of people with HIV or hepatitis C.[65][66][67][68] As per Lupus Foundation of America, "about 5% of the general population will have a positive ANA. However, at least 95% of the people who have a positive ANA do not have lupus. A positive ANA test can sometimes run in families, even if family members have no evidence of lupus."[9]

[Littlelodge123]

No. ANA is a non specific marker of (usually) connective tissue diseases. I have a confirmed PA diagnosis and my ANA has always been negative. ANA normally tested for things like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and other connective tissue autoimmune conditions