Anti-dsdna

I'm popping over from the Crohn's forum. I've been dealing with inflammatory arthritis, muscle pain, Raynaud's, Erythromelalgia and sudden onset hypertension within the last few years. My initial problem was the arthritis and joint pain which was treated as an extra-intestinal manifestation of Crohn's. about a year and a half ago I went to my first Rheumatologist appointment and had many blood tests run looking for a connective tissue disorder (I can't recall them all but can look them up) and the only positive test was a low positive for anti-histone antibodies. At the time the Rheumatologist continued treating the pain as seronegative arthritis. I recently went for a second opinion because I was having more problems and wasn't confident with the original Rheumy. This second doctor ordered some lab work; ENA, anti-dsdna, CBC, ESR, CRP, C3 and C4 complement. This time the anti-dsdna test was positive with a titer of 1:20 (this lab uses a 1:10 as a positive cutoff) everything else was within normal limits. I guess I'm wondering what this titer level means, I plan to call the doctor about the result tomorrow, and what I should possibly do next. I am currently on Plaquenil for the joint issues, but this doctor assumed the problem was Crohn's related when I first saw him.

Thanks for the reply, I've looked through the Lupus 101 thread and it didn't really answer my question about the DSDNA antibodies. I probably need to click through some of the links.
I'm having more than joint pain at this point that is just what this all started with a few years ago. I'm currently dealing with mouth sores, joint pain, muscle pain, fatigue and after spending time in the sun I generally feel unwell like I have the flu. This past spring my Rheumatologist's PA thought I had pleurisy. I've had some other unusual health issues lately that doctors usually just shrug off and say are weird like erythromelalgia, the development of sudden hypertension, leaky heart valves and atherosclerosis in my abdominal aorta (I'm 35 active and have a healthy diet). I'm frustrated with doctors currently because I don't think they were communicating with each other well and I'm hoping the new Rheumy will actually look at the big picture and not blame everything on Crohn's disease.

What were your levels of ANAs (antinuclear antibodies)?

What meds are you on for your Crohn's disease? Some of them can cause lupus-like symptoms and even some positive blood tests related to lupus.

Have you had anti-histone antibodies tested?

I wouldn't stop the Humira until further investigation is done, including more blood tests.

I would think you're overdue to test them again, anti-histone antibodies that is. Also total ANAs. Another year on Humira is plenty of time for them to *possibly* go way up - if that's the case with you.