Can I have an autoimmune problem?

[Barbie_S]

I have had several symptoms and and off for a few years of autoimmune type. I have tested both positive and negative for ANA. I have a high CH50 result (60), a high anti-dna (ds) result of 48. The sjorgrens anti ss a and b were both border at 0.2. So was rnp antibodies and smith antibodies (both 0.2). several other results were high (or low) but I'm not sure if they are relevant. (vitamin D -16.7, RBC 4.06, potassium 3.6, bun 7, globulin 4.0, AST 9sgot) 12, CRP screen 0.64)
I know you can't give me a diagnosis, but could you give me a professional opinion?
Thank you!

[Red_Star]

"ANAs are found in patients who have various autoimmune diseases, but not only autoimmune diseases. ANAs can be found also in patients with infections, cancer, lung diseases, gastrointestinal diseases, hormonal diseases, blood diseases, skin diseases, and in elderly people or people with a family history of rheumatic disease. ANAs are actually found in about 5% of the normal population.

The ANA results are just one factor in diagnosing, and must be considered together with the patient's clinical symptoms and other diagnostic tests. Medical history also plays a role because some prescription drugs can cause drug-induced ANAs.

Statistically speaking the incidence of positive ANA (in percent) per conditon is:

Systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus or SLE) - over 95%
Progressive systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) - 60-90%
Rheumatoid Arthritis - 25-30%
Sjogren's syndrome - 40-70%
Felty's syndrome - 100%
Juvenile arthritis - 15-30%

- excerpt from "ANA (Antinuclear Antibody) Test" By Carol Eustice

Elevated complement CH50 can be indicative of:

Ulcerative colitis
Infections
Cancer

Low complement CH50 can be indicative of:

Malnutrition
Kidney transplant rejection
Heredity angioedema
Cirrhosis
Hepatitis
Lupus nephritis
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Glomerulonephritis

Elevated Anti-dsDNA antibodies:

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (60%)
- Associated with Lupus Nephritis
- Associated with Lupus CNS Involvement
- Correlates with disease activity
Sjogren's Syndrome (5%)
Rheumatoid Arthritis (<5%)
Chronic active hepatitis
Biliary Cirrhosis
Epstein Barr Virus
Cytomegalovirus

Vitamin D deficiency is very common. T-cells start out inactive, but once triggered they become killer cells that seek out and destroy viruses and bacteria.  Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have found that T-cells will lie dormant unless they can find vitamin D.  Optimal vitamin D levels are 80ng/mL or 200nmol/L.

[msnova74]

It is entirely possible that you could have an autoimmine disease.  I have tests that went from pos to neg over and over before I was finally diagnosed with a form of MCTD.

The best advice that I can give you is follow your instincts, and keep trying.

T