want to know

[Lisafindlay]

Hi everyone

I just get a letter from my specialist about my result, I just want to know what does it means :- I hope anyone can help me with this

ENA RNP Sm ; rheumatoid factor 1:40 and C4 was slightly low at 0.13g/l.

Thank you so much...hope to hear from you soon.

Regards
Lisa Findlay :)

[Lily]

Hi Lisa,

Did your doctor not explain your results to you, he just sent you a letter? When do you see him next? I'm not a fan of that, my doctor will not release my results until he has had time to go over them with me, saves me unnnecessary concern about something I may not interpret correctly.

The following sites will help you decipher them though and there is a lot of information on our main site, reached by clicking under the butterfly top left of page.

http://www.fpnotebook.com/search.asp?QU=pa...s%5Csmoses%5Cdb (http://www.fpnotebook.com/search.asp?QU=pathology&CT=d%3A%5Cusers%5Csmoses%5Cdb)

http://www.postgradmed.com/issues/1998/02_98/ward.htm

Hope this helps, anything else we can try and help with dont hesitate,we arent docs but we are familiar with the usual bloods & testing for monitoring our diseases.

love
Lily

[polo76]

Hi Lisafindlay,
With the C4 being slightly low, it would be a good idea to check what the C3 is, ANA and anti - dna(ds) is.
Take care
Polo
Always consult a qualified medical professional.

[Ooohmeknees]

Hi Lisa,

I cannot help you with the C4 thing, thats a new one on me. The RNP and Sm are antibodies. You could do with knowing at what level they are, as with all things you may have something, but that does not mean you will develop autoimmune diseases. Lots of people have these things and they are only in the background.

You will find on the Net references to diseases linked with particular ANAs. My advice is to talk to your Rhuemy or Rhuemy nurse. I'm affraid in my experience GPs know very little other than giving you some meds, if you need them.

One of the biggest difficulties I found when first given my news was to find out what (figures) were normal, and what was high, and what does that mean. I still dont know. However my RF was 1:520. I was told 1:16 to 1:40 is the marker, but again it does not mean you will develop RA. The ANAs are suggestive of certain autoimmune areas, but you will find it difficult to get confirmed diagnosis for some time.

The other difficulty is the slight differences between the US and UK references and figures used, because they appear to be different also.

My other advice is dont be too overly worried about what you might read on the Net. A specialist doctor is where you need to get advice.

best wishes

[Lily]

Complements are proteins and important parts of the immune system response. In SLE the levels of C3 & C4 complement are often low indicating that this pathway has been activated forming immune complexes somewhere in the body.

http://www.labtestsonline.org/understandin...evels/test.html (http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/complement_levels/test.html)

A C4 complement deficiency is an alternative criteria according to Dr. Graham Hughes of St. Thomas's London Lupus Clinic. It was one of my first indications something was amiss in blood, then my C3 fell. ANA became positive and stayed there not long after that.

Hope this helps,

love
Lily

[Clare.T]

Labs will indicate when result are out of their own reference range, whatever test method they are using.

Positive anti Sm anti bodies will clinch a lupus diagnosis but not having them doesn't mean not lupus
( -Sm is said to be for the patient Mr Smith in whom they were first identified :flowers: )

Anti -RNP antibodies are very significant for a connective tissue disease ( like lupus)

Anti - Ro and anti- La would normally be done too.

Complement levels need to be done several times to see if there is a chronic low level at the diagnostic stage

They can be low for all sorts of reasons from time to time.

Blood test results are only part of the picture, but I think it is excellent for us to know what's going on so as to participate in our health care and make sure the right things are being done and nothing missed.

There are too many stories of ignorant doctors missing things with serious consequences for the patient's well being - diagnostic delays, inadequate medication and so on.

I hope you get answers soon

Clare

[Ooohmeknees]

In the UK many of the Rheumy nurses and doctors call the ANAs, the Tellytubbies, Ro, La, etc. (I dont have to explain this do I??)

I've not yet got Tinky Winky.