Dilute Russell's Viper Venom Test?

[shannon34]

Hello all -

My rheumy has just ordered this test (drvvt) after all other tests came back with normal results. Anyone else had this? I tried to find out more online, but was wondering if this a standard test for lupus and if anyone else was diagnosed using this test. He also ordered the double stranded DNA and re-check of my urine that came back with a 3-4 red blood cell count. Any clues would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Shannon

[cath]

Hi Shannon,

The drvvt test is one of several ways of testing for the lupus anticoagulant. The lupus anticoagulant is one of the tests for APS (antiphospholipid syndrome).

Have you ever had clotting problems or miscarriages? Have you been tested for anti cardiolipin antibodies or for syphylis (the test for syphilis is sometimes falsely positive in people with APS). If all these tests are negative and you have not had clotting problems, you probably don't have APS. About 1/3 pf people with lupus have APS too, but not having APS does not exclude the possibility of having lupus.

The doctor might be trying to gather evidence for lupus. Having a negative drvvt does not mean you don't have lupus, but if it had been positive it could have counted as a diagnostic point.

All the very best with eveything,

X C X

[shannon34]

Hi Cath and thank you. I'm sort of in a pickle as to whether or not suspect the APS. One the one hand, I feel that many of the things that have happened could very likely be due to this. Migraine headaches, transverse myelitis, hand numbness and pain in one hand, eye problems, to name a few. However, I have 4 beautiful children and as far as I know did not have any clots in the placenta with any of them (although my second was grunting when she was born and had to be whisked away to the ICU). I've been thinking about this today and how if it turned out to be APS I should count myself extremely lucky. If my urine comes back again with high red blood cells, then I reckon that this and a positive drvvt may lead to my diagnosis. Every other test that was run came back negative including cbc, chem profile, ana, rheum factor, sm rnt, ssb, igg, igm, iga, and ssa. The only other hope is for the anti dna which was also run yesterday. He also said that not all results were in yet, so there are probably some others not mentioned. I think it's lupus, but we'll have to wait and see what the doc thinks.