ANA positive and speckled?

[nellietheelephant]

Hi,
Ive got some blood results. They say RF is negative but ANA is positive and speckled.
my symptoms are joint pain all over, iv never had any rashes.
Do you think the results mean that it is something wrong?

[karajo]

What other symptoms do you have?  I know that a person can have rhematoid arthritis and not have a pos. RA factor.  Eventually the labs will show up what is really going on.  

My advice to you is to ask if your ANA could be checked again sometime soon.  Spend time in the sun prior to your test. (even if it's a cloudy day)  (about 15 min)  If you have lupus it will cause your ANA to spike.  Meanwhile, stay out of the sun, try to destress, drink lots of water, stay away from sugar (in general, eat more healthy).

Other things that can cause joint pain are: (certainly not a complete list)

rhematoid and osteo arthritis
lupus
Sjogrens
celiac disease
Bursitis
Chondromalacia patellae
Gout (especially found in the big toe)

diseases, including
◦Epstein-Barr viral syndrome
◦Hepatitis
◦Influenza
◦Lyme disease
◦Measles (rubeola)
◦Mumps
◦Parvovirus
◦Rheumatic fever
◦Rubella (German measles)
◦Varicella (chickenpox)

Injury, including fracture
•Osteoarthritis
•Osteomyelitis
•Septic arthritis
•Tendinitis

A rhematologist will take an overview of symptoms along with various labs and come up with a dx.  Usually any autoimmune disease takes time (sometimes years) to put all the puzzle pieces together.  So keep very good records of symptoms, even if they wax and wane.  Most autoimmune diseases have symptoms that come and go.  

[adam690]

Wouldnt this be a result of Hashimotos, which is very common?

[Beentherelots]

Have them test for HLA-B27.  

[PhayMarie]

Hi,

I have been having joint pain/Stiffness and tingling in my hands and fingers, knee pains, dizzy spells all through out the day for over a month, headaches, also some kind of spinal pain (which i had an MRI on and the only thing the MRI showed was that i have developed Arthritis in my lower back at the age of 25) My Dr. tested me for RA(arthritis) which came back negative and he tested me for Lupus. Which he just told me came back positive and i will need to go to a specialist. What does all of this mean!!!

ANA Speckled
Titer 1 1:80  

[Cassi25]

Hi just saw your post and I Am 25 and have a positive ANA of 1:40 and speckled . Had an Mir of neck and showed I too have developed arthritis I have not gone for an RA test or lupus yet. It's all so frustrating

[slocomb95]

i am in the process of being diagnosed. I saw 1 Rhuem, he was very arrogant and cocky. He was convinced that I didn't have anything serious because I looked fine and my ana was a low positive at 1:60. He didn't even look a my records that show that this was my 2nd positive Ana. 5 months ago I also had a positive Ana of 1:180.
In your opinion what do you think these 2 positive Ana's 5 months apart could mean?
Thanks
DJ

[karajo]

My first thought is maybe fibromyalgia.  (upper thigh ache)  And the lightheadedness can go along with that too.  The dry eyes could mean something and then again, it could mean just that, that you have dry eyes.  Dry eyes can cause your vision to get blurry, then clear, but so does MS.  Your ANA is on the low titer.  And the speckled pattern is seen in lupus and numerous other autoimmune diseases and in some healthy individuals who show low amounts of antibody.  

Speckled Pattern is the most common, and least specific.  Disorders that are seen are Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, Scleroderma and Sjogren's Syndrome

Further test for evaluation are Smith Antibody (Anti-Smith), Ribonucleoprotein Antibody (Anti-RNP), Scl-70 kD kinetochore (Anti-Topoisomerase I) and Anti-La (Anti-SSB)

[DenTek]

Hi:

I was diagnose with Sjogrens in 2008 then I went to the John Sjogrens Center in Maryland and the Rheumi Doctor told me that I did not have Sjogrens even thou I had a ANA of 1:140 with a speckled pattern, protein in the Blood (mild) and I brought my Lip Biopsy to the John Hopkins Center so the Doctor can look at it.  The Lip Biopsy is positive according to the original Doctor back in 2008 but the Rheumi at the Sjogrens Center  says:  It's not your average looking lip biopsy for Sjogrens.  Therefore he claims that I do not have Sjogrens but could not give me an answer accept I have Multifactorial (What ever that means)  My Question could this be MS?  The reason I ask is I do have vision problems some days I have clear vision and other days my vision can be distorted blurred and dry eyes sometime feels like I have grit in them.  I do have severe balance problems with lightheadedness and upper thigh ache.  I did have a CT-Scan with Iodine and the Doctor tells the nurse to tell me that I have a long lasting problem but not alarming.  What does that mean?  I cannot get her to call me.  I am on vacation in Florida and the nurse tells me I can wait intil I come back in April.  No I cannot wait I need her to tell me what she found.  Can MS not be alarming?  Does anybody have any ideas.  Thanks.  ***@****

[karajo]

Be sure and write down details of your symptoms.  What you think might make things worse.  Like did you feel extra bad a day or two after you were out in the sun.  How long it takes you to get moving in the mornings.  If you have any fever, do you sleep well at night, etc.

Did you get a copy of the lab they did 5 years ago when your ANA was positive?  

Please keep us up to date.

[starrieyes]

I have had progressively increasing muscle and joint pain for past three weeks. Pain got so bad yesterday I had to take an old pain pill I had in the cabinet for five years.Years ago when I was in my twenties, I had a positive speckled ANA and my doctor thought I had fibromyalgia. I'm also been extremely fatigued lately and ready to just lay down and take a nap by 1:00pm. Also I get muscle spasms here and there all over my body. I'm going back to see my doctor next week for a physical. I want to be checked again for auto immune disease. I have heard this may even be multiple sclerosis that has progressed.

[karajo]

Hi Katarina,
I'm so sorry I overlooked your reply.  That was way back in June.  
I too had a high ANA before treatment 160, then 320, then 640, then it jumped to 2,560 after spending time in the sun.  That's when I was put on plaquinel.  (which made a tremendous difference)  But ever since that my ANA has been negative, even after spending time in the sun.  I've talked to several people  who says they too have a neg ANA after treatment started.  I also talked to the lupus foundation and they said that ANA levels can vary and even be neg and is not a good indicator of disease activity.  When I asked them what else could make an ANA be that high they said only lupus.  My rheumy agrees to keep me on plaquinel because it has helped so much and will even give me a steroid shot when needed.  His dx is fibromyalgia and connective tisuue disease - which I'm OK with.  I really DON'T want a lupus dx.  As long as they treat me like I'm not making all of this up and continue w/ meds, I'm fine with that.  

I'm so sorry you are getting the run-around.  It sound like you move alot.  And that can be very stressful.  I know stress really affects me.  

Are you sleeping well.  That too can aggrevate things.  

Please forgive me for not getting back with you until now.  
Blessings, K

[silverfox67]

You may have Fibromyalgia.  If so, inflammation causes pain all over the body, joints and muscles.  It is recommended that one avoid tomatoes, potatoes, egg plant and mushrooms as they can aggravate the pain.  I take Essiac and old Osage Indian remedy which really helps me.  Also I take Gabapentin (Neurontin) when the pain gets excessive.  I hope this helps you.  See a rheumatologist.

[kashif8402]

my sister had sweling on her face in early. i got her complete lab test. she was diagnosed hepatitus c, and mild effusion. i consulted physician and after some time she felt difficulty in breathing and fatigue. doctor advised that she has water in her lungs. doctror also suggested that she has TB and started TB treatment. Now she undergone pericardictory recently. after cardiac surgery she has positive ANA. I am worry and want to know the complexties and treatment of this effect. i shall be thankful to all.  

[Katarina2010]

When I was 15, I was hospitalized with kidney infection and quickly found out I was alergic to penicillin.  That was a long time ago, since then I have had many UTI's, hospitalized twice with Kidney Infections, once with pneumonia, have had several unexplained rashes on different parts of body, endometritis, and shingles once.  Last spring after UV light facial treatment broke out with bad rash on face which ended up on neck and chest.  After 3 months was finally referred to Rheumatologist with ANA 320 (3X)  I was also feeling sore, lethargic and continuous headaches.  She diagnosed Lupus and started me on Prednisone and Plaquenil, had to get off Prednisone after 3 months on various doses and Plaquenil finally kicked in after almost 5 months.  I had to move to new city and lost first Rheumi, the next one was very skeptical (my rash was under control) and my ANA was negative so she said I was fine.  I was feeling very crappy that day and said I was not fine and wanted tests redone.  Finally got results with ANA 1280 Homogenous.  An Internist got those results and again said I had Lupus, but when he retested it was negative again.  Now I will have to go see another Rheumi (have moved again for work) and afraid I am going to get tossed out.  I know how I feel, I flush when I am tired or excited, if in room with florescent lighting or outside even with sunscreen it gets worse and I get bad headache and nauseas.  Have gone through shoulders so sore I need help dressing, sore and swollen knees, and always sore thigh muscles.  When your ANA is negative they give you that look like you are wasting their time, how do I convince a new Doctor to take me seriously so that I know I have their support?

[karajo]

Sorry for the delay in my response.  

Chances are this will reveal itself eventually or just fade away and leave you wondering if it ever meant anything.  There is a % of healthy folks that have a positive ANA.  

What was the level of your ANA?  

Many autoimmune diseases are difficult to dx.  And sometimes take years for all the puzzle pieces to come together.

[nellietheelephant]

not especially. Im always pretty tired, but iv had problems with iron deficiency and things so its hard to tell.

[karajo]

What about fatigue. Have you been tired?

[nellietheelephant]

hey thanks for your reply. i saw a rheumatologist and he said it could just be because i have raynauds or coz i have another autoimmune condition. but hes going to do some strange other blood tests just incase. need to look up what they are for! some sort of DNA antibodies,

er painly just joint pain in all joints in arms and legs, and some minor swelling at MCPs, not much else, though i have been getting headaches lately

[karajo]

ANA Speckled Pattern

A.Most common, least specific

B.Disorders
1.Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
2.Mixed Connective Tissue Disease
3.Scleroderma
4.Sjogren's Syndrome

C.Further evaluation
1.Smith Antibody (Anti-Smith)
2.Ribonucleoprotein Antibody (Anti-RNP)
3.Scl-70 kD kinetochore (Anti-Topoisomerase I)
4.Anti-La (Anti-SSB)

[nellietheelephant]

i dont think it was majorly high, just mildly positive. the joint pains soo bad though, i dont know what to do with myself

[OldFatChick]

Not necessarily.  ANA can be elevated due to many auto-immune diseases, it can, however, be elevated even if you don't have auto-immune disease.  Did they tell you what your levels were?  ANA is generally one of the first tests and then they go by symptoms and other tests to further narrow down the possibilities.  A good rheumatologist is your best bet.