Waiting on diagnose ..: Hi. I'm a newbie to... - Vasculitis UK

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Waiting on diagnose ..

SSM2015 profile image
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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 :)

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SSM2015
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John_Mills profile image
John_MillsVolunteer

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 profile image
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 profile image
John_MillsVolunteer 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 profile image
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

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