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Positive ANA Blood Test and Pitting Edema

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 5/14/2010 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
I had my blood taken last week to check for arthritis.  The results were as follows:

Arthritis Profile

Rheumatoid Factor, Quant <20 within range, expected range <30

Uric Acid, 6.2 within range, expected range 2.4 - 7.6

Sedimentation Rate, 15 within range, expected range 0-20

Anti-Nuclear Antibodies, positive out of range, expected range negative

Pattern:  speckled pattern

ANA Titer, homogeneous pattern 1:160 out of range, expected range <1:40

Vitamin D, 25 OH, 16 out of range, expected range 30-100

Note:  25-hydroxyvitamin D assay includes 25-hydroxyvitamin D2 and D3.  Methodology is chemiluminescent immunoassay.

Okay, so my PCP says, "It looks like something rheumatological is going on with you.  I think you should be referred to a rheumatologist."  Before that visit I told him that I needed a referral to a rheumatologist.  He said that I was getting ahead of myself and that he didn't think I needed a rheumatologist.  I have to throw that in there because he made me feel like I was a hypochondriac.  Does anyone else have any experience interpreting this?  The ANA portion of the test totally freaks me out.  It makes me feel like I might be dealing with another chronic illness in addition to th ulcerative colitis.

Last Sunday I started to swell at my ankles.  I pressed on my shin with my thumb and it made a dent, so I realized that it wasn't just my ankles.  I haven't been able to get the swelling to go down.  Even when I wake up in the morning, my ankles are still fat.  I thought that after sleeping for eight hours and being off my feet would help, but it's not.  I went to my local pharmacy today to get some type of over the counter diuretic, but the pharmacist said that he really thought I should go to the doctor.  My PCP saw me and he said that I have pitting edema.  He gave me Lasix. 

Does anyone have any experience with this medication? 

Does anyone deal with pitting edema?

Has anyone else had a positive ANA?

Does anyone know the difference between a speckled and a homogeneous patter on the ANA test and titer?

I would really appreciate any information or experience anyone can give me.  Thanks.

 

Posted 5/14/2010 11:16 AM (GMT 0)
Yes I have a positive ANA but my GI says it's not from Uc, the Rheumatologist says it's from Uc so who the heck knows what it indicates! I am on 6mp and if I have anything other then Uc, I am thinking that the 6mp is keeping whatever it is in check.

Sorry I can't help with your other questions though.
Posted 5/14/2010 11:40 AM (GMT 0)
Sherry,

Thank you so much for responding. 

I'm really new to the UC thing so I have a question.  What exactly is 6mp?  It would be nice if the information for physicians was the same across the board so there's no discrepancy.

Kara

Posted 5/14/2010 12:07 PM (GMT 0)
6mp is an immune suppressor. It is thought that our immune system is overactive and it gets "confused" and starts attacking our colons (or whatever is in the colon) thinking it's a foreign invader. By slowing down the immune system with medication, it can help someone with Uc and allows that person to enter remission. However, usually it is reserved for people that aren't responsive to typical Uc meds.

I believe I have some sort of other auto immune thing going on but like I said, whatever it is, the 6mp is keeping it tame. However, lately it seems that it's not enough so I may be making an appointment soon for the rheumy doc again.
Posted 5/14/2010 12:53 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I also had a positive ANA test and the Rheumatologist and my GI think it is due to the UC and nothing else at this time. It was explained to me that a positive ANA test indicates your immune system is not working properly - it is over active - which can indicate that you have a autoimmune disease such as UC or Arthritis or any other disease in the category... The diagnosis on which disease you have comes not from the ANA test but from your symptoms. It is not uncommon though to have more than one autoimmune disease.
Posted 5/14/2010 5:59 PM (GMT 0)
It's not uncommon for folks who have one autoimmune disease to develop others. I also had a positive ANA, but it can evidently be interpreted many ways and can give false positives (or negatives, for that matter). Find a respected rheumatologist. He or she may want to rerun the test(s).

I was diagnosed with Raynaud's phenomenon. I'm managing it with lifestyle changes and low dose aspirin.
Posted 5/14/2010 6:07 PM (GMT 0)
What sort of lifestyle changes are you making for your Raynaud's Princesa?
Posted 5/14/2010 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
Regular cardio, moving around periodically (I have a desk job) to help with circulation. I have a footrest at my desk to make sure circulation doesn't get restricted by the edge of my chair. It also has a knobby surface, so I can give myself foot massages. In the wintertime, a nightly foot massage with a rich cream helps and I wear footies to bed. (Toes are where I have the most problems.)

I don't go out in the winter without gloves or mittens on. I try to stay very warm and comfortable at home and at work. I put on a sweater if I feel chilly, socks and houseshoes around the house, electric blanket on the bed. But best of all, I get to send my husband out to scrape my car windshield when we have ice or snow. ;-)

Posted 5/14/2010 6:20 PM (GMT 0)
Ah ok. I was just wondering because I've had Raynaud's for a while now and I am always on the look out for new ideas! :)
Posted 5/15/2010 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
Your sedimentation rate (another measure of inflammation) is not bad at all. My most recent was 30 & I'm in remission. What seems to be amiss (based on my gastroenterologist's orientation) is your vitamin D level of 16, very low. In recent yrs medical researchers have been advocating supplementation of D to keep the blood level above 30-- because vitamin D impacts the immune system & also the absorption of calcium into our bones. I'd advise you to avoid over-the-counter meds and consult the doctor about your ankle swelling. Having UC means one has to be cautious about even common medications because they can have a bad effect on us. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 5/15/2010 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
I wanted to thank everyone for responding to my original questions, and also for the wealth of information.  I did end up going to the doctor for the swelling and he prescribed me 20 mg of Lasix a day.  He said that if the swelling went away after a week of Lasix, great.  But if I took it for a week and the swelling went away but came back then I needed to call him back.  Also, if the swelling never goes away after a week I am supposed to call him back.  He didn't have a definitive answer for the swelling, but he thinks it from all of my other issues.
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