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Family Medicine (Expert Forum)
Anticardiolipid (help
Questions in the Family Medicine forum are answered by Dr. J.M. Keyes. Topics covered include general health issues, adolescence, babies, child health, eating disorders, fitness, immunizations and vaccines, infectious diseases, medical tests and procedures, and senior health.
Anticardiolipid (help
by ivthelen, Feb 19, 2002 12:00AM
I have lupus and have currently been running a low grade fever,pain all over my body especially my lower legs up to my knees,deep bruising on my upper legs,fatigue,light chest pain and my arms and legs turn red to even purple on my fingers and toes! I currently had a blood test from my Rheumatologist and my anticardiolipid is in its 70's he told me to go back on prednisone. I was taking a baby aspiren daily before. I feel so utterly bad that I just want to make sure that I should not be in a hospital or if their is something better then prednisone and plaquinel.I really do not want to go back on this med again. Could you give me any advise as to what this lab test means and what can I do from here? Thank you
Doctor's Answer
by Forum-M.D.-DT, Feb 20, 2002 12:00AM
Thank you for visiting the family practice forum.
The test you are referring to is a assay which indicates the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (anticardiolipin). Elevations of the anticardiolipin antibody can be associated with arterial or venous thrombosis, low platelet counts. I suspect you also have the presence of an elevated partial thromboplastin time (PTT) which puts you at increased risk for bleeding.
Put simply, the elevated anticardiolipin antibody means you are at increased risk for cirulatory problems and/or bleeding. It means your lupus is "active" and you need medical treatment. It is up to your doctor to decide if you need to be in the hospital but I can tell you, based on the elevated anticardiolipin antibody and the clincial symptoms you describe you NEED to be treated.
Predinsone and anti-malarial medications such as Plaquenil are common treatments for Lupus exacerbations. There are other immunosupressive medications to consider however and if you do not tolerate the plaquenil perhaps you should speak to your doctor about the use of immunosupressive agents such as cyclophosphamide or azathioprine.
When lupus in uncontrolled or you are having an "exacerbation" you body is essentially making antibodies against itself, therefore the mainstay of treatment remains "calming down" your immune system so your body literally stops attacking itself.
I hope you find this helpful.
The test you are referring to is a assay which indicates the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (anticardiolipin). Elevations of the anticardiolipin antibody can be associated with arterial or venous thrombosis, low platelet counts. I suspect you also have the presence of an elevated partial thromboplastin time (PTT) which puts you at increased risk for bleeding.
Put simply, the elevated anticardiolipin antibody means you are at increased risk for cirulatory problems and/or bleeding. It means your lupus is "active" and you need medical treatment. It is up to your doctor to decide if you need to be in the hospital but I can tell you, based on the elevated anticardiolipin antibody and the clincial symptoms you describe you NEED to be treated.
Predinsone and anti-malarial medications such as Plaquenil are common treatments for Lupus exacerbations. There are other immunosupressive medications to consider however and if you do not tolerate the plaquenil perhaps you should speak to your doctor about the use of immunosupressive agents such as cyclophosphamide or azathioprine.
When lupus in uncontrolled or you are having an "exacerbation" you body is essentially making antibodies against itself, therefore the mainstay of treatment remains "calming down" your immune system so your body literally stops attacking itself.
I hope you find this helpful.
