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ANA levels and meaning

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Posted 11/19/2014 8:52 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone

i have muscle and joint problems and vascular issues. i had an ana 1:160 in june it was the nucleolar pattern. at that time i didnt have any antibodies and everything was normal except my sed rate was 41. i still have some arthritis and like i know the nucleolar pattern is for scleroderma but they didnt test me for all the antibodies.

anyways i started on this detox diet and ive got my ana down to 1:80. its still the nucleolar pattern. but my sed rate is now 11

is the 1 80 even considered postitive? if i had it at 1 160 then it went lower does that mean im going into remission from the illness? i dont even have a diagnosis yet i just know i have severe body pain and inflammation.

anyways can someone tell me more about the level 1 80 and if its possible to be ana negative after having a level of at least 1 160 ?

thank you
Posted 11/19/2014 9:37 PM (GMT 0)
ANA can be negative after being positive. ANA levels do not correlate to disease activity, so a lower ANA doesn't say anything about "remission". (Remission isn't usually used with autoimmune illnesses, however ANA is generally associated with autoimmune illnesses.) ANA of 1:80 is positive.

If you are trying to decide if you have Lupus or Scleroderma it depends on many factors & symptoms beyond the ANA & Sed rates - you need to be diagnosed by a rheumotologist.

Hope that helps,
Posted 11/19/2014 10:07 PM (GMT 0)
okay so my question is that if ana can be negative after being positive does that mean the illness is gone? i mean that means no more antibodies correct?

the ana 1 80 is something that i should worry? i was negative for lupus and antibodies scl-70 and centromere but there are like 5 more scleroderma antibodies.

anyways my biggest issue is arthritis and pain. i have a few symptoms of scleroderma the tendonitis and snapping tendons as well as some red dots and a nodule on my elbow. mild raynauds and sluggish capillary refill time. no skin problems except dryness but i do clean and shower too often ( like 3 times a day showers lol )

so i guess i was given the fibro diagnosis but since i went on this paleo diet and my ana went down ive been like 30-40 percent better. i still have bad flares and inflammation on my elbows and redness.

im seeing a new rheumatologist in december

thanks for helping.
Posted 11/20/2014 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
A positive ANA means nothing without a diagnosis. If you have no diagnosis it makes no difference if your ANA is positive or negative. It is NOT a monitor of disease activity, specifically when you haven't been diagnosed with a disease.
Posted 11/20/2014 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
thanks i was diagnosed with polyarthritis and fibromyalgia but i do have alot of symptoms of scleroderma. im trying to get that ruled out with a new rheumatologist in dec. hope i will be okay .

oh my new ana says homogenous pattern and then nucleolar again. both 1 80
Posted 12/10/2014 4:02 AM (GMT 0)
Can anyone tell me what an ANA 1:80 speckled would mean as apposed to a 1:80 homogeneous result.... I guess however any explanation how ANA levels work would be helpful....I apologize for posting here...I do not have lupus...I have Lyme and a coinfection of Lyme babesia duncani....altho with all of my symptoms...lupus was one of the auto immune conditions I researched often as I often considered I could have had it.

I would greatly appreciate if anyone was willing to help me with ANA info....as mine has changed from speckled to homogeneous....with how chaotic my sickness has been...things have never slowed down enough for me to ask that question... 😊
Posted 12/10/2014 5:10 AM (GMT 0)
From what I understand the patterns can change. The best description I've found was on the site labsonline.com.
Sorry I couldn't be of more help.
Posted 12/10/2014 2:06 PM (GMT 0)
Check our first thread, Lupus Resources.

about halfway down is an good explanation of ANA levels, what they do and don't mean, and what the different patterns usually correlate with.

In general, numbers & patterns are a loose guideline that indicate to Drs where to look for other symptoms; they don't have absolute meanings like some other lab tests.

Hope that helps!
Posted 12/10/2014 5:08 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you both so much :)
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