For several years I have had recurrent unexplainable illnesses, rashes and arthritis-like symptoms. Finally during my last episode, I requested an ANA test, which returned positive. My doctor and I both felt like we were finally getting to the bottom of things and he referred me to a rheumatologist, but by the time I could get in to see him, I was well again (6 weeks). The rheumatologist was not interested in hearing about any past illnesses, only what he could observe, which at the time was nothing. He re-did the ANA test, which returned negative this time and sent me away feeling like I had wasted both his and my time. After years of dead ends I was feeling hopeful that I was on the right track, but now it appears that I am back at square one. I have been told that healthy people can have positive ANA tests, but I am not healthy. Can a person’s ANA fluctuate between positive and negative when they are sick/not sick?

I am a forty year old women normally in good health. I received a positive result on two separate ANA tests (1:2560, homogeneous), which is apparently quite high. Subtest scores were all negative except Anti-scl-70 (2.0), anti-SM (1.1). I went to the doctor for the following symptoms: fatigue, anxiety, nausea, cold flashes. These symptoms came on all of a sudden and have persisted for three months. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s 28 years ago. Could Hashimoto’s explain such a high ANA test result. Over the past five years my TSH has ranged from 29 to .03 with no known cause for the jumps. My TSH, T3, T4 etc. are now in the normal range. I have been treated for chronic depression for 8 years, but with these current symptoms, my Psychiatrist is convinced that something physical is going on. I do not have pain in my joints, or extrimities or thickening skin patches to suggest Scleroderma, though I occasionally have difficulty in swallowing, and find myself more easily winded than normal. Is Scleroderma the only autoimmune condition to give a positive Anti-scl-70 result? According to my lab results anything >1.0 is positive. Is a positive result just a positive result, or do degrees make a difference. I am trying to get an appointment with a Cleveland Clinic Rheumatologist, but nothing is available for 5 weeks. In the meantime, I have not been able to carry out my normally active schedule, and more than that, I am frightened and not sure how to procede. My internist was not particularly concerned by the ANA test, my endocrinologist was. Most autoimmune diseases/syndromes are quite rare. Is it possible that such a large ANA Titer means nothing? Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

I am a SLE patients with CNS Involvement and severe arthritis pain. I have been on prednisone and Plaquenil for over 8 years. The prednisone is now doing damage to my bones. My Rheumatologist wants me either in Methotrexate or Imuran. I like to know what is the difference (side effects, etc) and know which would be better for me.

Dr. My wife is 30 years old and has been suffering from joint pain in both elbows both medially and distally. Her range of motion in both elbows severely decresed also. Concurrent to that pain she also has pain in her left ankle on the distal portion and upon extension the pain persists on the anterior portion of the ankle. She has had multiple x-rays of the elbows and neck and ankle and all came back negative after being reviewed by two orthopedic surgeons. The initial diagnosis by the rheumatologist and Orthopedic surgeon was tendonitis in both elbows and no one seems to have an idea on her ankle. The rheumatologist prescribed celebrex 1 SID for the inflammation. This did not help. We have since visited another orthopedic dr and he gave her cortisone shots in both elbows after diagnosing tendonitis. The shots definitely imporved her range of motion in her elbows but the pain is still present. He ordered blood tests for ANA AND RA and from what we can tell the results were out of range higher than 40. She is in a tremendous amount of pain and wanted another experts opinion. She also has been on relafin 1 SID.

What is the life expectancy of women with lupus in the 1 severe case and in the 2 mild case?

If a patients anti -ds DN ANTIBODY (DOUBLE STRANDED) TEST IS NEGATIVE DOES IT MEAN THAT THE PATIENT HAS arthritis