COULD IT BE LUPUS

Hi for over 2 years I have had MS type symptoms. Have had the usual tests MRI had lots of foci high signals (but put down to my age of 57), unconvincing lesion on my spinal MRI, POSITIVE VEP test.

Anyway I finally went for a lumbar puncture which has come back with inflammation but the pattern of inflammation indication that the inflammation isnt coming from the nervous system but is a general affect.

At the start of this I had a positive LUPUS test but the second one came back negative.

In the last few months my hair is coming out and I have a large lump in my gland in my neck.

The sunlight has a profound affect on my wellbeing and will put me in a relapse.

Would Lupus show a general inflammation in my spinal fluids. Any ideas. My father had Lupus.

[karajo]

Dear Mrs. Aristotle,

So sorry to hear that you have felt bad for these couple of years.  

First of all, Lupus "can" mimic MS and vice versa.  If Lupus is affecting the central nervous system, then it could make someone think they have MS.  

I'm not sure what test was performed when you said you tested positive for lupus, then it was negative.  But I do know the ANA can fluctuate.   And a neg. result DOES NOT rule out lupus.  I know my ANA titer was considered "low", then it was neg.  But when I spent time in the sun, it went through the roof.  It helped me get the medical attention I so desperately needed.

There are 11 criteria to lupus and 4 are needed for a diagnosis.  You can google how lupus is dx to see a list of these.  Most people wth lupus have rashes on their skin and joint pain.  Those are the two most common symptoms.  I'm not saying that everyone with lupus has these conditions, just most of them.

I hope this information is helpful to you and that you can find the answers you need.
God bless you over there in the United Kingdom.
Kara