Autoimmune

About six months ago I began having severe pain in my joints which first started in my neck.The worst pain is in the shoulders, then the neck and hips. Little less pain in hands, knees, elbows. My vision suddenly worsened. RA Screen tested positive, High Sedimentation rate, Positive for Antinuclear Antibodies Direct, High for Sjogrens Anti SS-A, Complement, Total (CH50) High, Thyroid Peroxidase and Antithyroglobulin High, C-Reactive Protein, Quant High.  Steroids help but pain returns as soon as I quit taking them.  What is wrong with me and what can be done.  The doctor cannot give me a diagnosis.  

[karajo]

It sounds like you might have more than one thing going on, which is not uncommon w/ autoimmune diseases.  

SSA is present in most patients w/ Sjogren's syndrome (dry eyes, dry mouth and arthritis) and 20-30% of those w/ SLE (systemic lupus).  SSA can impart increased sun sensitivity to its carriers and is seen in nearly all patients w/ a skin disorder called sub-acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus.  The percent of normal people having SSA is <1%.

The rheumatoid factor is positive in 80% of rheumatoid arthritis patients and 20-30 % of those w/ SLE.  High levels of rheumatoid facotr w/ low levels of ANA suggest that a dx of rheumatoid arthritis should be considered as opposed to SLE.  

High CH50 level - I am not that familar w/ that.  Here is a web site that might be helpful.
http://www.medicalhealthtests.com/blood-tests/complement-ch50.html

High thyroglobulin reveals inflammation in the thyroid.  
http://www.mythyroid.com/thyroglobulin.html

High Thyroid Peroxidase is a strong indication that something autoimmune is going on.  

What does a positive thyroid peroxidase test mean?

•Most people with chronic thyroiditis (70%-90%) display a positive TPO test. The test is also positive in lesser numbers of people with other thyroid diseases.

•Other autoimmune disorders that may cause a positive TPOAb test include:

◦Sjogren's syndrome,
◦lupus,
◦rheumatoid arthritis, and
◦pernicious anemia.

http://www.medicinenet.com/thyroid_peroxidase_test/article.htm

High C-reative protein indicates inflammation.

I've never heard of quant.

Just be aware that an autoimmune disease can travel in pairs and they are not dx on lab results alone.  The dr. considers both the lab and symptoms when he/she is handing down a dx.