Aa
inconsistent rpr results
I am in a 100% monogamous relationship, and have been for about 10 years. Last year, in connection with routine blood tests/checkup, I tested RPR negative. So did my husband of many years. This year, check up showed me RPR positive, undiluted, and FTA-abs positive. My husband was still negative. I was totally incredulous, so we re-did the test at the same lab and got the same results (rpr positive, undiluted, and FTA-abs positive). There is absolutely no chance of third party contact by me in the course of my relationship. Any ideas regarding the reason for these results? These additional facts may be helpful: I have traveled to many, many places with malaria; some years ago, I spent many weeks volunteering in a leper colony treating and dressing wounds, and was definitely exposed to blood during that time period (I know that sounds made up, but it isn't); I have had a lot of unusual, live vaccinations in connection with travel, including Japanese Encephalitis shots, Yellow Fever shots, etc. (but not for the last 7 years or so); and I don't recall ever showing any symptoms related to syphilis. I had major surgery between the last checkup and this year's checkup, but didn't have any obviously evident infections. I have tested negative for Lupus, but haven't tested for all autoimmune diseases on the planet, so I can't speak to any others. So, the question is, any ideas what this rpr negative, turned undiluted positive and fta-abs positive a year later (with intervening travel and surgery) could be about? Thank you in advance.
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i realize i didn't answer your other question -- yes, i know that yews, pinta, bejel are non-sexual diseases that can cause positives. i've certainly traveled to developing countries where those diseases may occur, but i don't recall having any symptoms, so i don't think i've ever had those illnesses, at least not to my knowledge. thanks again.
Thanks to you both. I appreciate your trying to help. i know it's strange, and i do appreciate that you weighed in and tried to help. i will try posting on the expert forum. in answer to your question re: pregnancy, i am definitely not pregnant and never have been. the reason we've been taking the blood panels is that we're trying to get pregnant, so that's not the reason for the potential false positives. i will try posting in the expert forum. thank you again. i do appreciate it.
ok, thank you. i appreciate your checking. needless to say, this is distressing. Two additional facts come to mind that may be helpful: (1) I have had to take a lot of hormone shots between last year and this year (I doubt that has anything to do with it, but fyi, just in case), and (2) although i have taken ciproflaxin from time to time, i have never taken penicillin because I took it once as a teenager and had what may have been an allergic reaction (strained breathing), so ever since then, I've stayed away from it. Because syphilis is generally only treated with penicillin, this may mean that my rpr negative from last year didn't reflect a treated infection.
Let me get someone else to take a look at this, but more follow up with your Dr will probably be needed.
the rpr positive was undiluted, which i believe means that it's a weak positive, 1:1, though it didn't say so on the sheet. the fta-abs doesn't come with a number, it just says positive/negative, etc. i am also anemic and have severe vit d deficiency (taking supplements for that), which is why i got worried about autoimmune causes.
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Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
Vance asked me to help here, and I'm happy to.
My first question is why are you testing for STDs yearly if you are in a monogamous relationship? I don't ask that to be mean, but wondering if there is a reason you think you should test?
Are you pregnant? Pregnancy can cause false positives.
While there are some tropical conditions that can create false positives, such as Yews, I'd wonder why that would just start to happen. Do you know if you ever had yews?
Undiluted does mean 1:1, which as you know, is very low. It suggests an old infection, and some people will always have antibodies. The contradictions come in that you have tested negative in the past, and are now testing positive, and your husband is negative.
Since you tested for lupus, I'd wonder if you have some other health issues happening, and maybe one of those can cause a false positive. I found these from our experts -
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Concerns-about-Syphilis/show/249222
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/STDs/Confusion-Over-Test-Results/show/384280
I know I haven't given any firm answers, and I hope I helped. As Vance said, this will likely mean more follow up with your doctor. You can also post in our expert forum if you'd like their advice.
Jess