SLE Lupus or human ehrliciosis?or both?

I was diagnosed with SLE Lupus 4 months ago, now taking a myriad of thing such as plaquinol, calcort, anti-inflamatories etc. At the very same week of the diagnosis I recieved a report that I had positive anti-bodies for human erliciosos and rocky mountian spotted fever.The rheumatologists said that was a myth although I have two dogs who have had erhlicia, were born with it, and I have been repeatedly bitten by ticks that were feeding on both dogs.

I just had a severe episode of gastro-intestinal infection and was hospitalized in another hospital where they got an ANA negative test.

I have two questions:

1. Could the highly elevated ANA been a result of the ehriliosis, instead of Lupus?

2. Is that normal that the ANA factors would reverse themselves completely after 4 months on steroids and antimalarial drugs?

It is very confusing to me to have two different places saying two different things, although I continue to have a variable infection with high leucocyte presence and it remains a mystery as to where and why. Apparently on the rheumatoid testing i only trested positive for the one ANA factor and no others.

The symptoms of the two diseases are very similiar and I am confused as to why I get conflicting reports and diagnosis.

PLEASE HELP.

How can I know if I have one or the other or both?

[Kevin Pho, MD]

To answer your questions:
1) A positive ANA level is more likely caused from lupus.  I am not aware of ANA being elevated from ehrlichiosis.

2) A fall in various lab values, including ANA levels and complement levels may happen with appropriate treatment of the disease.  

Appropriate antibody testing can cement the diagnosis of ehrlichiosis.

These questions can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_

[KrisKraft]

Have you been tested for Lyme disease?

Odds are, if you have RMSF and ehriichia, you have Lyme.
GI pain is a common symptom, and steroids are possibly the worst thing you can take with Lyme, since it suppresses the immune system.

I would strongly urge you to run to a Lyme-experienced physician, which you can find by typing in your location to "Flash Discussions", then "Find a Physician" here:
http://www.lymenet.org/

Enter your symptoms under the "Medical Questions" section, and you can see what other people with similar symptoms think.

Only rarely will a rheumatologist test for Lyme, because they often follow the lead of infamous rheumatologist Dr. Steere, who has has positioned the disease as arthritis-only, rare, easy to treat, and easy to cure. He's written all the medical textbooks on Lyme, and edits most of the Rheumie journals.

You can see a comprehensive list of symptoms in peer-reviewed journal articles under "Symptoms and Characteristics (peer-reviewed literature)" on my website:
http://www.openeyepictures.com/underourskin/uos_resources.html

Be aware that testing through the commercial labs is notoriously insensitive, with the FDA-approved test kits missing over 50% of positive cases.

In my opinion, IGenex, which specializes in tick-borne diseases, is the only reliable Lyme lab, because they test for multiple Lyme strains, not just the B31 Shelter Island strain, and they report on the most specific Lyme markers, the 31kDa and 34kDA bands. IGenex has recently passed Cal., NY, and CDC quality testing with flying colors. You can download the IGenex testing forms from my website; give these to your MD if you want to use this lab. MDL isn't bad a bad lab either.

Fewer than half the people with Lyme ever see a tick bite or a rash. You have the right to take control of your medical care. The longer you have Lyme, the harder it is to get rid of.

KrisKraft
http://www.lymediseasefilm.com/

[boninclyde]

I don't think you ever get rid of lyme diease you just control the symtoms (symptoms) don't you?

[KrisKraft]

Everyone's different. I know some people who've been cured. The early you treat it, the easier it is to get rid of.