I have a couple of questions????

Hello,

My almost 9 year old son was just diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Athritis last week.  So far there are 4 joints that are affeected.  I spoke with his DR today and she told me she got the rest of the test results back and his ANA is high.  She did not tell me what it was tho.  Of course I starting searching the internet to see what that was and found Lupus.  Just because the result is positive does it mean Lupus??  She told me to make an appointment with and Opthamologist to get a slit lamp exam done.  I will schedule the appointment tomorrow, but amy help would be appreciated.

Thanks

As Jennifer said, a positive ANA can mean any AI disease, including RA. You have to have at least 4 of the 11 symptoms on the "lupus list" (see link in my signature below) to have lupus, and it doesn't sound like that is the case with your son. Fortunately a rheumatologist is the person who is qualified to treat both RA, Lupus, and several other AI diseases, so you're already in the right hands. I've never heard of the Slit Lamp Exam before -- it doesn't seem to be associated with Lupus from anything I've been able to locate. It is however associated with another AI disease, Sjogren's Syndrome. (Again something a rheumy would treat.) Is your son having some eye issues? Try not to worry too much about lupus, so far I don't hear anything that would make me think anything but RA is present. Take care,

Slit lamp test is used to diagnose various eye conditions and diseases.  It might be used to diagnose early MS??? not sure.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/MEDLINEPLUS/ency/article/003880.htm

Bill

Hello Sheryl

When the ANA is found in juvenile arthritis there is a higher risk of eye problems
"An inflammation of the iris (the colored area of the eye) may occur with or without active joint symptoms. This inflammation, called iridocy***is, iritis, or uveitis, can be detected early by an ophthalmologist."

(kidshealth.org and other reliable sites)
Try to get your son's doctor to explain things more to you. Make sure urine has been tested and that all the other antibody tests have been done. Check out first rate reliable sites as a way of informing yourself of the considerationsd and making sure that the right sorts of treatment are being offered and nothing neglected for his general well being and future health - physical exercises for example.

Dr Thomas Lehmann (sp?) has a very good book on Pediatric Rheumatic Diseases.
I hope he will be feeling better soon
BB