Scleroderma extended panel results help understand please

[ShonaGreen]

Hi, I’ve just got results from recent Scleroderma panel, saying Hep2 screen positive with weak nucluer homogenous pattern and scleroderma immunoblot is negative.

So I think this means that no specific antibodies have been detected so it’s a normal result? Just confusing it mentions positive and then negative, but could the positive just refer to previous ANA test (result was1:160 homogenous & cytoplasmic pattern)

[StrixOccidentalis]

Hi ShonaGreen,

I read this as you have a positive ANA (the positive HEp-2 results) but no SSc specific antibodies like SCL-70, ACA, etc. (negative SSc immunoblot.) From the info you provided it's unclear if a new HEp-2 test was done at the same time as the immunoblot, or if that references the previous test you mentioned. Did they provide a titre level with the results?

So, is this a normal result? That's between you and your rheumy. They will assess symptoms and test results together. ANA alone is not diagnostic. For what it's worth, a 1:160 ANA titre is on the low side of abnormal so that's good? (1:80 is the threshold, then 1:160, 1:320, 1:640, 1:1280, and 1:2560.)

[StrixOccidentalis]

I just read your previous post re: Raynaud's so understand the context a bit more.

I think you're in a similar position as a number of us here with bad Raynaud's, a positive ANA, but no specific antibodies making diagnosis more difficult. Our doctors will just focus on treating the symptoms, but we would really like a diagnosis!

I hope sildenafil helps with your Raynaud's. I have found that a heated mat for my feet under my desk really helps me. It keeps the blood flowing in my feet when I'm at my desk which helps work against the damage that occurs at other times when the blood flow is limited by Raynaud's. I have a cushy one at home I use when watching TV or reading. I feel like I'm slow roasting my feet sometimes, but it works for me. I haven't had a chillblain in over a year. My feet can still hurt in general when they get cold, but I can live with that.