Blood Tests

[Heather1987]

Hi all
I recently have been told I have MS, spinal lesion, positive LP and clinical signs. While coming to terms with this and trying to decide on which DMD to start on before my next neurologist appointment, I received a copy of a letter that went to my doctor saying, ACE level normal, ANA slightly higher 1/160, and further tests are being done for double stranded DNA and ENA. Help please, what does this all mean. Can you have slightly higher ANA in MS? My symptoms do not appear to be like Lupus so what other conditions can this indicate? Thanks Heather

[Heather1987]

Thanks very much for the replies. I was just on the Lupus website and it says an elevated ANA can occur in many diseases and listed MS. Im now wondering how many out there that have been been diagnosed with MS also had an elevated ANA blood test? Just curious. Im sure I do not have Lupus or any form of arthritis although my mother did. Heather  

[Quixotic1]

Hi, an ANA of 1:160 or slightly higher is most likely a meaningless finding.  Most people with true disease that involves a positive ANA have much higher titers.  A significant number of healthy women have positive ANAs.  Also certain disorders and drugs can elevate the ANA.  It is proper that your docs are following this up.  Even though the findings are pointing toward MS, it is a diagnosis of EXCLUSION, so they have to rule out any other illness that can cause your combination of symptoms and problems.

Try not to worry too much until they get the more specific tests done.  This is all part of the process.

Quix

[slightlybroken]

Hi,

An ANA test shows us that there is inflammation in the body. This test alone is more or less a generic test, to test for autoimmune diseases & connective tissue diseases such as SLE (Lupus), Sjogrens, Scleroderma, and can be positive in Raynauds patients.

Further testing is required to confirm which disease and whether or not the ANA is a "true" positive result. That's why your doctors are running further testing by doing the ds-DNA and ENA to confirm. Sometimes the ANA, especially if it's only a slightly high number, is a false positive result.

On the other hand, ANA levels in the beginning when you have Lupus can present with slightly high numbers, and Lupus is a MS mimic and needs to be completely cleared from the table before beginning treatment for MS.

I couldn't imagine how frustrating this is for you..thinking that you have your DX and then now this. I'm in limbo myself, but I did have a false positive ANA come up at one time. My doctors ran a ds-DNA and I was also negative. The ds-DNA test is a specific test for Lupus and will only be positive for Lupus.

Here's what included in the ENA
Antibodies that are part of the ENA blood test panel include the following.

SS-A and SS-B tests. These proteins most commonly (60 percent to 80 percent of the time) are found in patients who have Sjogren’s syndrome, but also may be present in people who have lupus or an overlap syndrome called mixed connective tissue disease.

RNP. This tests the ribonucleoprotein antibody. It is generally present in an "overlap" condition called mixed connective tissue disease. RNP also may be positive in patients who have lupus.

Sm. This tests the Smith antibody that may be present in people who have lupus. Only about 10 percent of people who have lupus have a positive Sm, but nearly 90 percent of people who have positive Sm tests have lupus.

SCL-70. Measures a protein that may occur in patients who have scleroderma.

Jo-1. This measures proteins that may occur in pneumonitis (lung inflammation) in some patients who have polymyositis or dermatomyositis.


I hope your doctors figure this out so you can begin treatment.
Take Care