Confused by anticentromere antibodies

[Gingerbeets]

Hi I had parvovirus at the beginning of the year with swollen fingers and terrible pains in my hands and arms. It triggered carpel tunnel syndrome and for the last 5 months I’ve had pins and needles and electric shocks up my arms and numb fingers. I’m due for CT surgery which will hopefully resolve that. However they have also now found anticentromere antibodies in my bloods. Other than periods of crushing fatigue, the numb fingers and occasional stiffness in my toes, I’m not showing any other sumptoms. No Raynauds although I can see that the circulation to my hands has worsened. Should I be looking at getting any other tests or just sit tight and wait to see if anything else develops?

[LucyJean]

Hi there, centromere antibodies are pretty specific for the Limited form of scleroderma, and the puffy fingers, fatigue and joint symptoms are all typical of this condition. It is possible that due to having been subjected to a virus that your immune system may be doing slightly different and things will settle, but I would be inclined to get my GP to refer me to a Rheumatologist to just check things out. At early stages it is likely they would adopt a watch and wait approach anyway but sometimes it is better to be in the health system just in case. I don't think you need to get worried about the situation but specialist advice might just reassure you and ensure that things stay as they are rather than progress.

All my best

Lucy x

[Gingerbeets in reply to LucyJean]

Thanks Lucy. Much appreciated. I have been referred to a rheumatologist and as you say, other than recommending the CT op, he has said to return for a follow up check and blood tests in 6 months.

[Mylomydog in reply to Gingerbeets]

Hi,i too have significantly elevated anticetromere antibodies and only got diagnosed in april this year.i only developed the raynauds last year but developed severe difficulties swallowing back in 2014. Yeah the bouts of chronic fatigue gets me really down and i get problems with arm weakness and severe muscle stiffness in my neck and random nasty pains in my wrist.i also have a lot of wear and tear in my neck which has caused the discs to press against the spinal cord.i wondered if the spondylosis may have caused the scleroderma as no one in my family that i know of has any auto immune diseases.my diagnosis is limited cutacious scleroderma.

[Gingerbeets in reply to Mylomydog]

Hi Mylomydog, sorry to hear about your pain. It seems as though this whole area is still something of a mystery to the medical profession! My family do have autoimmune issues in the form of endometriosis and psoriasis but that’s it as far as I know.

I hope everything settles for you.