ANA titer borderline - no symptoms - Meaning?

[nance506]

My daughter, age 29, has ANA titer 1:1280 speckled. Anti DSDNA 3.4, Anti SM/RNP .06, Sjogren's anti SSA 2.6, SSB 3.4. Except for the  ANA, other results are normal. She has no symptoms. Is the elevated ANA speckled result something to worry about? What might it indicate? Thanks.

[vegassue]

I'm a newbie....I tested positive for ANA and anti-dsDNA "diffuse".   I am waiting for my first rheumie appt.  I have not found anything that explains the "diffuse" result.  I hoping someone knows, or can suggest a good reference.   Thanks!

[adviceneeded148]

Went to my ENT because of sores and crusts in nose and bad sinusitis.  She ordered a blood test and ANA came back 1280 speckled.  I had no other symptoms at all.  Went to another ENT.  There were no nasal sores, and he said they were probably from a staph infection which the antibiotics sorted out. But he said my septum was badly deviated septum and have since had an operation to straighten it. Now 12 days post op.  Have had no return of the sores in nose.  But am still worried about the 1280 ANA. Do you think I should have further blood tests?  Have no symptoms of an auto-immune disease, though possibly that is something that will happen in the future with this high titre ANA?

[mollyadelaide]

I understand how confusing all this can be. An ANA of 1:1280 is by no means borderline though! The other specific antibodies may be coming within the "normal" range but that does not necessarily indicate that nothing is going on. There are like the other poster commented a whole lot of other specific tests/antibodies they could test for. I also imagine that when your daughter went in for her exam with the rheumatologist he/she probably did a history with her and asked her many questions. Perhaps your daughter is not a complainer or just hasn't recognized certain things as "symptoms" but as the rheumy asked he/she most likely found reason in your daughter's answers to run these tests. If she is not in much pain or discomfort then most likely the disease process is either in the very early stages or it is very possible that she will never develop any particular identifiable disease.

[nance506]

Her initial complaint was sporadic stiffness in her left hand. Family doctor ran the blood test and the ANA level was borderline, thus resulting in a referral to a rheumatologist. The rheumatologist said the hand stiffness was tendonitis, then ran the rest of the blood tests even though there were no other symptoms. Second ANA was still 1:1280 speckled, but all other tests are in normal range. She is to return in two weeks for discussion of the results.Thanks for the reply.

[nance506]

Her initial complaint was sporadic stiffness in her left hand. Family doctor ran the blood test and the ANA level was borderline, thus resulting in a referral to a rheumatologist. The rheumatologist said the hand stiffness was tendonitis, then ran the rest of the blood tests even though there were no other symptoms. Second ANA was still borderline, but all other tests are in normal range. She is to return in two weeks for discussion of the results.Thanks for the replies.

[karajo]

I must ask, why test ANA, Anti DsDNA, ect when she has no symptoms????

Surely she was having symptoms.  Docs usually don't run these expensive test unless there is indication of autoimmune disease.

Autoimmune diseases are not dx based on lab results alone.  They put together symptoms along w/ lab results.  The speckled pattern is seen in lupus as well as other autoimmune diseases and normal healthy people as well.

I hope that answers your question.

[chance588]

Why was the test ordered to begin with? Usually, these tests are not ordered without reason. ANA speckled pattern can signal an autoimmune disease at high levels (which her's is.) The speckled pattern is most common, least specific. Here is a list of autoimmune diseases that the ANA might signal:

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

# Further testing that should be done

Ribonucleoprotein Antibody (Anti-RNP)
Scl-70 kD kinetochore (Anti-Topoisomerase I)
  Anti-La (Anti-SSB)
I would suggest that her Dr. retest the ANA. It is possible that the lab messed up on the test or that she is among the population that have ANA in their blood without any disease present. I wish your family luck. Her not having any symptoms is on her side right now. Lets pray that it stays that way!