Finally know my ana and pattern

[tintagel]

Seen my rheumy today and finally after being diagnosed with lupus over a year ago, I have been told my ana figures and pattern.
When first tested my ana was 1: two thousand and something, now it is 1:640 and has a speckled pattern. I felt quite shocked and upset cos these figures seemed so high and made it all feel too real, I know that sounds silly. Rheumy said figures did not mean much and they are not always indicative of illness activity and severity. Can anyone share any info about all this with me, especially the speckled pattern bit, what is the significance of this?

Thankyou, Tintagel.X

[Lily]

Hi Tintagel,

Here's some info on the different ANA patterns and their disease associations. Speckled seems a fairly common one amongst us - mine is speckled. It's just how the pattern shows up after they stain it and put it under the microscope.

http://dpalm.med.uth.tmc.edu/clinicalservi...erps/ANA.html#4 (http://dpalm.med.uth.tmc.edu/clinicalservices/Interps/ANA.html#4)

They usually run some of the other tests in the ENA panel to work out which connective tissue disease you might have or alternatively they go on symptoms.
An ANA of 1:2560 it sounds like you had at the onset. Which is very high, but your Rheumy sounds clued up when he says that often does not relate to the severity or disease activity. At least in my case I've found that to be true with my own results.


love
Lily

[raggedyann1]

Tintagel,

Also remember that the ana titer doubles each time. So your 1:620 is only 2 dilutions from 1:2560. Which is considered extremely high and no rheumy would ever say you don't have anything with an ana that high.

Here is another link for you. I know that some days I find different lab sites easier to read so I have bookmarded several. :rolleyes:

http://www.haps.nsw.gov.au/edrsrch/edinfo/autopat.html

Take care,
Karen