This is what I read about:
"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"."
I hope you get some answers soon. Like you I just want to know what I have I have been getting the run around for 2 years now. Some days I am so bad that my husband just lets me crash for a couple of days. He has gotten so good at being able to tell when I am going to get a "flair-up" Still don't don't what I flair up with but it has gotten old.
I do know I do not have Lupus even though at first I would have thought I did when conducting searches on symptoms only. I have had several blood test rule it out.
Scelroderma can give positive ANA's (60%-90%). So it's why you have them positives
Sorry for not being clear my hormone replacement is due to having to have a hysterectomy last year and is not thyroid related. I just didn't think when I sent my post when I mentioned I was on hormone therapy. I am still trying to find a doctor who can tell me why I have the high ANA and what is wrong with me. As of right now I can not seem to find one. But hopefully soon.
Hi again, this ANA's are really confused, they can be positive in patients with hashimoto, like AR-10 said "It indicates autoimmune activity" but it isn't a marker for thyroid. I got a question to Dr. Lupo : hashimoto and ANA's and he told me that patients with hashimoto can have positive ANA's but usually not so high as I have (1:640). I'm checking in hospital this ANA's cocktail and I will know the results on the 30 th. So, no one wants to treat me (I have Hashimoto, high titer of TPO and my TSH is 2,9), and I feel so tired, insonias sometimes, can't do exercise. Positive ANA doesn't mean is LUPUS, many autoimune diseases can give positive ANA's (fibromyalgia, etc). But 95% of people with Lupus have positive ANA's....
If you are taking thyroid hormone replacement already, then your dosage needs to be bumped up just a little. Your TSH needs to be under 2.0, and being off one full point can give you hypo symptoms.
The problem is finding just the right dose that won't make you hyper.
The ANA thing needs to be tracked down with further testing. It indicates autoimmune activity, but not thyroid related. It may take several tests and a process of elimination to figure out why your ANA is high.
Wow! Thanks for the information. I am on hormone replacement therapy now wonder if it needs to be adjusted. My main complaints have been fatigue, weight gain, numbness and tingling this has been going on for 2 years trying to get a answer as to what is wrong.
Thank you for such a quick response. From what I could figure out I was thinking Hashimoto. I also have elevated ANA as well. That is why a neurologist thought I may have had Lupus and referred my to the first rhemey. I have a feeling this doctor is one I am going to have to push to do anything. How does Hashimoto usually get treated?
The first two tests are thyroid antibody tests. They show that you test positive for an autoimmune thyroid condition.
Your TSH is within lab limits, but it is too high. It should be between 0.8 and 2.0.
The last three tests are old style thyroid hormone tests. They are not very acurate. They show your hormones are low, which is probably true or you TSH would be lower.
You are slightly hypothyroid, or low on thyroid hormones. The antibody tests indicate you have Hashimoto's, which is autoimmune hypothyroidism.
TPOab is also found in patients with Rheumatoid arthritis and several other autoimmune diseases as well. The other antibody is only found in autoimmune thyroid disease.
Whether or not you should be put on thyroid meds at this time is debatable. You are not extremely hypo, and your hormone levels could go either way in the next month or two. A low dose of replacement hormones may be beneficial, but most doctors would test again in a month or so to see if your TSH is going up or down.
Wellcome
Looks like you have another autoimune disorder "hashimoto", do you have symtoms of hipo? My first lab values were a little like yours except my TPO was higher. I had symptoms with TSH 3.5, and still now (TSH 2,9 measured in a different lab, 1 month later, and Free T4 1.0). I'm waiting for some results of other autoimune diseases (I have high positive ANA's). Now it is important to ask the doctor for a ultrasound of your thyroid.