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Positive ANA result related to Fibro?

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Posted 11/20/2009 7:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hi - I've posted this question on the lupus board, too.  Was told by my rheumatologist yesterday that a positive ANA can be the result of fibromyalgia.  Anyone else been told this ?    I was dx'd with Fibro several years before the ANA "turned on".   I know a +ANA can be caused by things other than RA, Lupus, etc. - but I've never seen Fibro on that list.  Maybe this is new info coming down the pike? 

thanks,

Lucy

Posted 11/20/2009 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
This would be interesting info...I attributed my positive ANA to Celiac as I was told it didn't indicate Fibromyalgia.
Posted 11/20/2009 10:21 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lucy, There are no known antibodies for fibromyalgia. I have never heard of positive
ANA being related to fibromyalgia.

I see you have a diagnosiis of Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease, I would associate
the positive ANA due to the UCTD. Have you had antibody testing for Lupus, Scleroderma
or any of the other Connective Tissue Diseases. What testing was done to get your dx of
UCTD? AN ELISA 8 test would help determine what autoantibodies you may have.

Good Luck to you!

Robin
Posted 11/20/2009 11:32 PM (GMT 0)

Robin - yes I've had antibody testing for Lupus, Sjogrens, RA - all were negative.  The positive ANA, which was significantly elevated, is what gave me the UCTD diagnosis, along with symptoms etc.  Initially, the rheumy just confirmed the already confirmed diagnosis of fibro as being additional, but NOT the cause of the ANA.  She changed her tune this last visit, and I'm not sure why - she wants me to remain on the Plaquenil, however for the CTD - so it's not like she's undiagnosing the CTD - just saying the +ANA could be from the fibromyalgia.....just doesn't jive with what she'd said over the last 3 yrs or with what I've read.  I've not heard of the elisa 8, though.   

Gottaski - I've just recently been dx'd w/ the Celiac, and after 6 wks on the GF diet - for the first time in 3 years, my ANA was negative (was tested through a different lab, but still...).  Then yesterday, it turned up positive again (rheumy's lab).  I wonder if celiac could cause a + ANA - it is an autoimmune disorder.  Will have to check into that.

Thanks and have a good weekend!

Lucy

Posted 11/21/2009 1:13 AM (GMT 0)
Lucy, I was initially diagnosed with UCTD. I never had a positive ANA. My rheumy uses
ANA 8 ELISA testing. It tests for ssDNA dsDNA Sm RNP SSA(Ro) SSB (LA) Histone and Scl-70

Multiple testing showed I was RNP positive. I also get lupus type rashes on my chest and
neck. A skin biopsy was done on my arm which confirmed scleroderma and I have RA
symptoms as well. My diagnosis went from UCTD to Mixed Connective Tissue Disease.
MCTD is the only CTD that can be confirmed with one antibody...positve RNP.

I was also on Plaquenil when my diagnosis was UCTD, it takes about 6months to build up
in your system before it really starts working. It helped with the rashes and fatigue. I am
no longer on it, my rheumy put me on Methotrexate.

Having Fibro along with a CTD keeps things interesting to say the least.

Robin
Posted 11/21/2009 1:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Lucy-

I thought a previous positive ANA 1:320 was caused by the Celiac, but I just got results from a ANA that was run post 5 months post gluten free (doc was late in filing results) and it was higher 1:640. During the time it rose my fibro symptoms have gotten much worse. Since fibro symptoms are involved in many other AIs this new elevation has me confused.

Will ask celiac doc along with rhuematology about it next week.

Have a great weekend!

-Lisa
Posted 11/21/2009 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
My son tests blood for all kinds of things.  According to him, ANA's are the most repeated samples he gets...the same patient being retested three or five times a month because the results can vary drastically, even over the course of a few weeks.  It is a very sensative test and all you need is an infected hangnail or a cold sore to contaminate the reading.  I have had only two ANA's done in my life and both were in the normal range.  However, I asked for one last year and my doctor told me 'no way', then repeated what my son had told me...that test is not a reliable source for detecting auto immune disorders and are only correct about 50% of the time.  That being said...this is just what I have been told( and certainly not to be taken as gospel) but might explain inconsistant readings people seem to get that are very confusing.  Every doctor is different, as are their positions on testing!

 

Huggies

Donna

Posted 11/21/2009 7:01 PM (GMT 0)
Donna you are correct. ANA and other antibodies wax and wane, that is why it is so important
that testing is done on a regular basis if you are showing synptoms of an autoimmune disease.
ANA and specific positve antibdodies determines your diagnosis. In rare cases a person
will never present with a positive ANA and have positive antibodies and get a CTD. I fit
in the odd ball category.

Hugs

Robin
Posted 11/21/2009 7:08 PM (GMT 0)
Completely agree that one can not be diagnosed by ANA only. Depending on how high the titer is along with any pattern that is detected it can indicate certain autoimmune disease which can help decide on further testing to aid in diagnosis.

The results I received yesterday indicated titer of 1:640 with speckled pattern - while this pattern can mean nothing it also is an indicator in Lupus, Scleroderma, Sjogren's Syndrome and Mixed Connective Tissue Dissease.

My ANA has always been positive and has risen over the past ten years -- never normal or decrease -- not sure if that means anything, but I'll ask docs to quell my curiosity.
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