ANA

[Irisw]

Has anyone ever had a positive ANA?

[4pjx__]

Anyone with PBC most likely has a positive AMA.

[Irisw in reply to 4pjx__]

Thanks I didn’t know that

[Irisw in reply to 4pjx__]

I meant ANA ...sorry

[ninjagirlwebb in reply to Irisw]

Per the research from EASL, ~ 30% of pbc patients are ana positive.

[Irisw in reply to ninjagirlwebb]

Ok thanks

[gwillistexas]

Yes. My titer was 1:640. Normal is <1:40

[Irisw in reply to gwillistexas]

Thanks ... have u been diagnosed with anything else

[gwillistexas in reply to Irisw]

Not yet but my tests are suggestive of schleroderma & I know without being told I have reynauds. Only in the cold weather do my fingers bother me.

[gwillistexas in reply to Irisw]

Have you had the ANA Cascade ?

[Irisw in reply to gwillistexas]

No... just the ANA blood test

Maybe that one is more extensive

[gwillistexas in reply to Irisw]

Yes it is. It tests for many things. My dr said that’s why they call it “cascade”, 😄. Makes sense. Along with Mitochondrial, my dr ran several others at same time.

[gwillistexas in reply to Irisw]

The Centromere B antibody test is in the cascade. That one can be suggestive of schleroderma. Yes the tests were extensive & expensive. I think my total lab was just around $800.

[Irisw in reply to gwillistexas]

Oh wow!!!

[Irisw in reply to gwillistexas]

R u waiting for results ?

[gwillistexas in reply to Irisw]

No, I was diagnosed with PBC one year ago

[MissusTee in reply to Irisw]

I'm ANA positive with anti centromere antibodies, I do actually have scleroderma as well as PBC, sjogrens, and hypothyroidism. I have at least 6 autoantibodies.

[gwillistexas in reply to MissusTee]

MissusTee...is your schleroderma limited (skin)?

[MissusTee in reply to gwillistexas]

Hi, yes it is limited but I have very little in the way of skin thickening, but my raynauds and gastric issues have been quite bad. Last year I ended up with malnourishment from small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

[gwillistexas in reply to MissusTee]

Oh my. I’ve had no outward signs. My dr did check for skin tightystound my temple area. All good there. I have noticed if I get a small cut on my hand, it heals but then in that spot the skin is little hard but goes away.

[MissusTee in reply to gwillistexas]

I don't think that would be the type of thickening that they are looking for. In fact the name scleroderma is quite misleading, as a lot of people don't have skin thickening, but it seems to be one of the main things that less experienced doctors look for!

[gwillistexas in reply to MissusTee]

Well I’ve not seen rheumatologist yet. My GI checked skin when I had first visit with him on pbc. I’m not going solely on what he said. I’ve read a lot about schleroderma so I’m aware of the many things it can do. Not good. But some things worse than others. Localized isn’t as destructive as systemic. But neither are good.

[gwillistexas in reply to gwillistexas]

*tightening...autocorrect 😀

[gwillistexas in reply to MissusTee]

Schlero.org is a great link 😊

[MissusTee in reply to gwillistexas]

Yes, I've seen that! I've had it for 32 years now, and it still throws up strange symptoms. I'm in menopause, so I don't know if there are hormonal influences that make things worse!

[gwillistexas in reply to MissusTee]

Wow! Long time. 😊

[Angelann69]

I've had two positive ANA tests and 9 of the 11 physical signs of Lupus, yet my doc says I don't have it until she says I do. Grrrr. I doesn't want it but it would be nice to know what is behind my symptoms. My doc and I have a toxic relationship.

[Ellyne]

I have Positive ANA and AMA M2. Diagnosed with PBC, already had hypothyroid and osteoporosis. In addition, Raynaud’s in cold weather. This summer was a miracle absolutely nothing

[gwillistexas in reply to Ellyne]

78 degrees here today. Came out of grocery store & my middle finger cold & pale😏. Meat market did it. I think my fingers know when the season is changing. I dread winter because of that.

[Ellyne in reply to gwillistexas]

I know. I dread it too. It seemed my feet were always cold even with thick socks. I’d get so frustrated that I would stick my feet in the hottest water I could stand.

[gwillistexas in reply to Ellyne]

My feet don’t get quite as cold as my hands. But a little embarrassing when you check out at the store. Feels weird to write a check with numb fingers😆

[Skypony]

I had positive ANA more than 10 years ago during a big flare up of autoimmune connective tissue disease. Interestingly though, it's been negative for many years since (just my AMA is positive now) so ANA status can change.

[Irisw in reply to Skypony]

R u still struggling with connective tissue?

[Skypony in reply to Irisw]

It's at a low level now, thanks for asking. I had intensive therapy with various strong drugs that knocked it back.

How are you feeling?

[Irisw in reply to Skypony]

I got a positive ANA blood test..so I’m a lil freaked out. I’m expecting a call from Hep to see what’s next ... deeper ANA test?

What were u symptoms with connective tissue?

[Skypony in reply to Irisw]

Painful & swollen fingers and general joint pain.

What's bothering you most about the positive ANA?

[Irisw in reply to Skypony]

Well I get pulled tendons and pinched nerves way easier when I’m more active...then that makes my fingers feel tingly ... it goes away after I rest..

The only other thing that I’m getting worried about is pains/soarness around both breasts at various spots. I’m getting an ultrasound done. Doc says could be cystic...

read about ANA blood tests and what they can mean if they are positive. Of course that led me down a rabbit trail of things like

Lupus...Reynolds sjrogrens crest..etc

As of right now I don’t have any of the symptoms but maybe I’m in denial

[Skypony in reply to Irisw]

Ok, understand. But stay calm and wait for something more concrete. Distract yourself with things you enjoy. Do let us know how you get on.

Best wishes.

[Irisw in reply to Skypony]

Thank you... really appreciate it

[Sona_akb]

Yes I have positive ANA with 1/640 titer

Don’t know if ovarlap syndrome or PBC