Help with ANA titer

I don't understand the titer and what it means. My doctor told me mine is positive but didn't say whether it was high or low, and at the time, I didn't know to ask.

It was 1:1280 homogenous.

Can anyone tell me if that is a high or low positive and what it means, and also what the homogenous pattern means?

My friend who is a nurse said she has seen more false positive ANA tests than anything, so I wonder if it could be false positive?

***ANA Titers and Patterns
ANA laboratory reports include a titer (pronounced TY-tur) and a pattern.

The titer indicates how many times the lab technician had to dilute plasma from the blood to get a sample free of the antinuclear antibodies. For example, a titer of 1:640 shows a greater concentration of anti-nuclear antibodies than a titer of 1:320 or 1:160. The apparent great difference between various titers can be misleading. Since each dilution involves doubling the amount of test fluid, it is not surprising that titer numbers increase rather rapidly. In actuality, the difference between a 1:160 titer and a 1:320 titer is only a single dilution. This does not necessarily represent a major difference in disease activity.

ANA titers go up and down during the course of the disease, and a high or low titer does not necessarily mean the disease is more or less active. Therefore, it is not always possible to determine the activity of the disease from the ANA titer. A titer above 1:80 is usually considered positive. Some laboratories may interpret different titer levels as positive, so one cannot compare titers from different laboratories.

The pattern of the ANA test can sometimes be helpful in determining which autoimmune disease is present and which treatment program is appropriate.
The homogeneous, or smooth pattern is found in a variety of connective tissue diseases, as well as in people taking particular drugs, such as certain antiarrhythmics, anticonvulsants or antihypertensives. This homogenous pattern is also the one most commonly seen in healthy individuals who have positive ANA tests.

The speckled pattern is found in SLE and other connective tissue diseases

The peripheral, or rim pattern is found almost exclusively in SLE.

The nucleolar pattern, with a few large spots, is found primarily in people who have scleroderma****
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Your ANA is considered very high. The important question is what kind of symptoms do you have? I hope the information above helps answer your questions.

I don't think a high ANA such as yours could be a false positive, I think that is only if the numbers are much lower, but I am not a doctor. My ANA was 1:640 and it was high enough to get the doctors attention. At that time I think that was the only positive test I had besides the SED which measures inflammation (there are several tests that check this and not all of them are positive).

It sounds like something is definitely going on with the symptoms you are having. Your doctor should run some other lab tests, get your family history and symptoms. Here are some links for you to check out.

www.uklupus.co.uk/dxlupus.html Criteria list to help dx it

www.uklupus.co.uk/tests.html List of blood test used in the dx process

I really hope you get some answers soon. When do you go back to the doctor?

Hi,

Like yourself, I also had an ANA Titer that was >1:1280 Homogenous.  I also had a positive ESR (sedimentation) of 26. My doctor told me not to be alarmed but I have an appointment with a Rheumatologist. I heard these could both be signs of pregnancy.  Has anyone else heard that?

I am in good health but have started experiencing vertigo, headaches, fatigue, the tips of my fingers will go numb and turn gray/blue, my eyes are sensitive to light, and achyness in my legs.  Also, I have been struggling with very high cholesterol.  None of these symptoms, however, interrupt my daily activities or are unbearable.  I am very scared.  I am 23, run, play sports, and am very active.  I have a great diet b.c I am very conscious of my high cholesterol.  My mother has MS and Epiplepsy so my doctor had me get an MRI and I am seeing a Neurologist to rule out MS. 

Does anyone have any insight?  Are my symptoms and test results reason for alarm?  ANy information would be much appreciated.  I cannot stop thinking about all the awful possibilities.

Thanks, Lisa 

 

Thanks Sabintha!  Since the last post, I was diagnosed with Raynaud's and I was negative for MS and a few other conditions.  I haven't had my ANA Titer checked since, but I am very curious if it is still high.  What are some of the symptoms that you had with Hypothyroidism?  How was it diagnosed?

HOpe all is well.   

hi i was just wondering how doodlebee is going, i came accross this as i got the exact same blood results as you the other week, i have seen a rhuematologist and have been told he doubts i have lupus, but was not very helpful with detemining what the cause of the blood tests were. i also had a back xray that showed degenerative disc disease. i was wondering if doodlebee was diagnosed with anything as maybe i could have the same thing.

thanks    

All threads posted are very interesting. about 7yrs ago, I was diagnoised by a Neurologist with a sever case of sinusitis/allergies only becuase I was itching, my head was clogged with limited breathing and proven blood work showed that my ANA TITER were reading 1:78/Speckled. The DR prescribed (at the time) prescription Zyertec that should be taken every 12hrs EVERY day. Me hating medicine and the affect associated with them, I only take one tablet MAYBE every third day. Or until I can't take the itching! After about one year into this, I was contacted by the DR stating that I needed to come in for couseling to discuss my ANA TITER count from a year before. More test showed negative for rhemthoid arthritis, negative for Lupus and negative for MS. After several sticking of needles and val's of blood still no diagnosis, I finally couldn't take it any long -- I STOPPED going!!!! I'm regreting it now, b/c the itching has actually gotten worse, I now am starting to get dizzy with fog which about a year ago only would hit me every other month, now have increased to hit me about 1per month. The more I research the scarey its becoming. I don't have symptoms such as pain in joints nor any other pain -- however I do experience weight fluxuation and not even having the urge to uninate, even after 3 bottle sof 16 oz waters -- love it' (hate sodas). I call myself being a healthy eater. My diet is simple, not to much fried but a lot of veggies -- love em'. Not sure if this fits this forum, but any and all responses are welcome. May be able to share with my NEW Dr.....we really gotta figure something out!!! Thanks.

There are a number of auto-immune diseases that have positive ANA readings. Until you get to a rheumatologist, it's pretty much a guess - the final diagnosis has to do with symptoms - there are no definitive tests that absolutely say "yes" or "no" to lupus. The rheumies are the ones with the education and the experience to diagnosis and treat auto-immune diseases - the other drs really aren't qualified.

Hope you get to feeling better soon,

Write down every Symptom you have experienced over past two yesrs. Pay Attention to the following symptoms:

Dizziness

Short or long term memory loss

Weakness (Symetrical or on only one side)

Pain (Symetrical or on only one side)

Inflamation (Symetrical or on only one side)

Swelling (Symetrical or on only one side)

Rashes and where

Neuropathy (numbness and tingling) in feet or hands

Skin color changes due to temperature or stress

Dryness in eyes, mouth, and or throat

Mouth sores

Vitamin D Deficiency (Are you on Prescription Vitamin D)

Major Hair Loss

Tremors in fingers or hands (and how often, are you exercising at time or at rest)

Have you been involved in Physical Trama (like car accident or fall)

What medications are you on

What Vitamins and supplements are you on.

Note There are several diseases that are highly associated with various cancers, get complete check up by a Rheumatologist, he will usually direct you to see a Dermatologist for skin care, Opthamologist (not Optometrist) for checking you out from Autoimmune association with their specialty. For example Sjogren's affects eyes and mouth and throat with dryness and sores. Skin problems could be beginning stage of Lupus or Dermatomyositis along with the other symptoms you mentioned. Also ANA can be there one day and negative the next in some people with a disease. Not sure what happens once you go on the medications for treatment. You may need to see a pulmonologist to look for signs of lung cancer, and a Gastrointernologist to look for throat, stomach, and colon cancer via two different procedures. You will also be referred to a Cardiologist if you have specific Autoimmune diseases to check for heart disease, high CHL, etc...

It usually takes a good team of doctors before you are diagnosed properly. Sometimes it takes a while because you may not have all the signs for a while, and sometimes they are confused because you probably have or will develop other autoimmune diseases such as overlap syndrome. It is frustrationg to the doctor and much mor so to the patient. You need courage, trust, and family and friends support.

My first and last ANA Test was done in 2002 after having skin signs and muscle fatique. It was Positive, Homo, with a Titre of 1:80. It was dismissed by my primary doctor as either probably something related to misdiagnosed RA in 1990, or a false positive. The test was never repeated. Today I have advanced stages of Dermatomyositis-Polymyositis, Secondary Sjogren's, and Secondary Raynaud's Phenonema, and some symptoms of SLE such as hand and fingers treamors and symetrical rash on my cheeks, eyelids, neck, chest, thighs, elbows, and Gottron papules on my finger knuckles,  along with symetrical muscle pain and weakness in my neck, arms, legs, hip, and back. and firey inflamation and pain in my hands and feet.

I have not been in remission since 2007, the Rheumatologists did not run another ANA test since I was confirmed to have DM by Biopsy and the treatment is fairly the same for these autoimmune diseases that are so closely linked. He will be running it this week, I think, unless the MTX and IVIG Treatment I am on has an impact on the test and its results being inaccurate.