I have several symptoms of Lupus but the ANA came back negative. Don't know what else it could be. I don't have an appointment with the specialist until next month.
2007-05-09 09:37:08 · 6 answers · asked by gapper1964 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
Yes, you can. My ANA test is alternately positive or negative. and I have Lupus and fibromyalgia. Go to Mayo Clinic's site. They have information on which of the other blood tests taken in combination point to a firm Lupus (SLE) diagnosis. Pay particular attention to your rheumatoid factor results.
Remember: there is no definitive blood test for lupus per se; a combination of results from several types of blood tests combine to point to the diagnosis. There are many people with Lupus who have never had a positive ANA!
2007-05-10 21:41:02 · answer #1 · answered by Corrie W 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is no single definitive lab test for lupus. Most people who have a positive ANA do not have lupus. 5-10% of people who do have lupus will have a negative ANA.
A diagnosis of lupus is made when other disorders are ruled out, a thorough history is taken, a variety of lab tests are run, and you meet 4 out of 11 criteria set out by the American College of Rheumatology.
Please go to www.lupus.org and while you are there go to the take action link and email your congressperson asking him or her to co-sponsor the lupus REACH amendments.
One of the things the REACH amendments does is continue Dr. Sam Lim's National Lupus Registry in conjunction with the Centers of Disease Control. This project holds a lot of promise for finding a definitive biomarker that can make a diagnosis of lupus absolute.
Thank you.
2007-05-09 11:36:50 · answer #2 · answered by Linda R 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Even though some tests exist, it is my understanding that there is still no definitive test for lupus that will confirm it in every case. So the answer to that question, I believe, is yes. My sister has lupus, by the way.
Also, check out this article I found here about that test, which seems to have some interesting information about it:
http://www.lupus.org/education/articles/ana.html
Some of the key points I saw in the article are that "there is no single diagnostic test for lupus", and that "a positive ANA test by itself is not proof of lupus".
~Kyle
2007-05-09 09:41:03 · answer #3 · answered by Kyleontheweb 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, an ANA test is only an indicator, but there is no proof positive test for Lupus. I have another Disease, that is 'Lupus-like" and sadly many doctors do not test for this. My ANA has come back Negative for years.
2007-05-09 09:56:10 · answer #4 · answered by dat93 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
[To the guy above. Lupus is not cancer.] Go to an internist (internal medicine doctor). They'll be able to order more tests to help figure out what's going on. An orthopedic doctor is great for orthopedic issues, but is far removed from diagnosing/treating rheumatological disorders. There is ANA negative "Anti-Ro (SS-A)" Lupus (aka discoid lupus). Higher in african american, women. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis might be worth checking into. As far as the muscle twitches... Dermatomyositis? Without more history/physical exam it's tough to say. But I really recommend seeing an internist. Cause they can start the process and refer you to rheumatologist if necessary. Hope you get help.
2016-04-01 04:13:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am ANA positive as well as Rheumatoid Factor positive. Yes you can have Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis but test negative. Could be that while you have 'symptoms' it might not be Lupus but another form of Arthritis.
2007-05-09 11:34:07 · answer #6 · answered by gillianprowe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋