Question:
Hi . I am a 40 yr old female, recently diagnosed. I went to the dr. last month w/ a foot problem, he took some blood and xrays on my back & set up nerve studies. In short, ANA test came back "speckled" pattern at 160:1 ? I wasn’t really paying a lot of attention cause I was trying to absorb the lupus arthritis diagnosis and did not really know what to ask. Been searching the net since and learned some stuff. Upshot, I really don’t feel sick except for occasional pain in my spine and bowel problems, neither is what I went in to see him for. I started wondering if the bowel problems could be lupus related? would appreciate any info. I also wonder how he can base the diagnosis on one blood test? I will be checking the list regularly now that I know you are here. Kelley
Response:
<< I also wonder how he can base the diagnosis on one blood test?>> Not really. There are 11 diagnostic criteria for diagnosing lupus. My daughter meets somewhere between 6-8 criteria (a minimum of 4 is required for diagnosis generally) including positive ANA 1:160-homogenous, and chronic leukopenia (her other antibody studies aren’t back yet), and they’re still only about 90% sure she has lupus. They say that if one or some of the antibody levels comes back positive (esp. anti-DNA or anti-Sm), they’ll know for sure it’s lupus. If you’re really not sure about the lupus diagnosis, perhaps you should go to another rheumatologist (one with experience diagnosing and treating lupus) for another opinion. Sandra
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