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normal ANA for a lupus patient

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Posted 9/25/2007 10:47 PM (GMT 0)
Can anyone tell me what a normal ANA would be for Lupus patients?  My doc said that mine was 1:80 and then the time before that was 1:140.  I am glad that it is getting better but not sure what normal would be for me or what might be considered in remission?

Thanks for your help.

Posted 9/25/2007 10:56 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Tulip, my names carol, I don't think we've met I'm out of town until tomorrow. Anyway sadly that new ANA of yours does not nessesarily mean you are getting better. People have lupus that dont always have a possitive ANA. All that means is you may not be in a flare right now. My ANA is 1:2560 the past 2 times is was taken. once I felt like crap and the next time I felt good but it didn't change. You'll find that peoples ANA are all over the board. It's only one of many test to give you a diagnosis. That's why you can't go by ANA alone.  I hope this helps a little and I look forward to getting to know you

hugs

carol


Posted 9/25/2007 10:59 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Tulip . . . I hope that you are "feeling" better along with your numbers going down. Sometimes, the severity of the ANA is just no indicator of disease activity. We have at least one terribly ill member here who's ANA is normal. Actually, the ANA is just one of 11 criteria for Lupus . . . we need exhibit only 4 of the 11 for a positive lupus dx, so you could never show a positive ANA and still have Lupus and be quite ill. I hope this helps. I know it is confusing and there are lots of doctors who don't understand this either. I would still like to see what the others have to say . . . there is lots of knowledge among our members and we sometimes disagree on certain issues. Blessings!
Posted 9/25/2007 11:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Carol and Rosie! Thanks for the quick response. I was actually diagnosed about 7 years ago and have been through quite a few bouts with my kidney involvment i.e. chemo, ect. I guess sometimes I still get confused about the whole thing. My kindey function is now great and I am only leaking a little bit of protein which is about 250g (something like that...they said normal was about 150). anyway my doc said that my lupus activity was high still and he measured it by my ANA. The only symptom I have right now is tired and anemia so I guess the ANA really doenst measure how active your Lupus is then???????

Confused????
Posted 9/25/2007 11:13 PM (GMT 0)
ANA "can" measure disease activity . . . but it doesn't "necessarily" measure it. We aren't sure if it goes up before a flare, during a flare . . . and some say their meds seem to make it go down, so the measurement is then relative to the meds . . . it is a very unclear topic but there are those who believe the numbers are everything. I look forward to hearing from some of the other members. We certainly don't argue about it . . . but it's always great to get info from many sources. If I can find an article, I'll post it. Blessings!
Posted 9/26/2007 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
I have never had a positive ANA, I have kidney, heart, brain, skin and joint involvement. My lupus was diagnosed after a renal biopsy. Dr. Wallace, who wrote The Lupus Book says if you've had at least 9 rounds of chemo and massive steroids it's possible that you will never have a positive ANA. Judy
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