Waiting on diagnose ..

[SSM2015]

Hi. I'm a newbie to your forum and this is my first post . For the last 4 months I have been breaking out into urticaria welts on legs and few on arms when I am out in sun. These welts feel like a burn at first but typically do not itch . They come out quick and leave within an hour or less but typically leave a bruise. This doesn't happen everytime I go into sun ..maybe depends on uv that day. I do not have other symptoms at this point other then heat rash on stomach at times that doesn't leave marks. My bloodwork came back yesterday and indicated that my liver , kidney , tyrhroid , cryglobin , iGE, and anti DNA were all negative but my ANA was positive at 1:660 I believe. They are waiting for my histone results as I have been taking minocycline for my rosacea for years which has been reported to induce lupus. Ugh.. I'm frustrated and nervous as to what is going on . My dermatologist is considering lupus or urticaria vasculitis . If I have vasculitis would my ana be positive ?? And what other symptims are there ? It's hard to tell if I have the lupus rash as my face has rosacea flares at times that look similar.

All the best

[John_Mills Volunteer]

Hi, the ANA test is the usual indicator for lupus so as you are ANA+ve it strongly suggests that you do have lupus.

It is possible that the rosacea were actually lupus or maybe it was induced by the minocycline - long term use of broad spectrum antibiotics can have a profound effect on the immune system.

Just to confuse matters, there is the ANCA test for certain types of vasculitis.

ANA stands for Anti Nuclear Antibodies - this is a general indicator of auto-immune disease, but is not usually +ve for vasculitis

ANCA stands for Anti Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies,

There are effective treatments for lupus, some of which are the same as for vasculitis.

[SSM2015 in reply to John_Mills]

Hey. Thanks for reply. Yes the positive ANA is one piece of puzzle and could suggest lupus. My anti DNA was negative however which is more specific. But I do know that some folks with lupus do have negative anti DNA . I read that minocyline can actually cause ana to be positive .. hoping that's the case . I've scoured the Web and can't find anything about my symptoms - urticaria looking welts that bruise after being in sun . Seems like a lupus rash is different and lasts longer . I don't know .. i am in limbo here .

[John_Mills Volunteer in reply to SSM2015]

Lupus is not really my field, so my knowledge/experience is limited.

Where do you get your treatment?

BW - John

[SSM2015]

Oh I'm not being treated ..yet . I assume the next test will be a biopsy before they can determine anything . I live in Canada though and the wait lists are months and months to see specialists