ds-DNA Question

[fexaloo]

Feeling anxious about blood tests and symptoms....

Wondering if anyone might be able to shed some light on some blood work I had done due to a variety of symptoms I have been having (starting with chronic hives and joint pain mainly in shoulder but also feet and fingers, facial rash, and abdominal pain).

I tested positive for ANA 1:80. My GP said that was borderline, that many people have weak positive ANA, and also that there is a high incidence of false positives in low positive levels. The pattern was nucleolar -from what I read the pattern may not be all that significant.

My question is about my dsDNA result which on my lab sheet is 32 IU/ml and lists 0-200 IU/ml being the negative range. I have done some reading of the internet, which can be daunting that states that over 30 is a weakly positve reading. My question is, do the normal values of ds-DNA vary from lab to lab? Does the mere presence of any ds-DNA point to anything? In this same article I read that a "normal" reading would be 2.5 + or - 2.5. I noticed that the ds-DNA on this site is listed as a titer.

I tested negative for lupus inhibitor by DRVVT and Dilute Prothromibn time. My other blood tests were within the normal range. My luekocyte count was 5.9, platelets were 366, RBC 4.63, negative for RA factor, and SED rate 10.


Should I inquire about other tests, I am feeling really anxious about these results especially the ds-DNA, I will be seeing a dermatologist in a couple of weeks.

Thanks, any insights would be appreciated.

[Maia]

That is the same range my lab uses... and anything under 200 is negative and they will even call 200-300 "indeterminate" or something like that so you need a value over 300 to be clearly positive. Individual labs will vary in their positive ranges, & I'm not entirely sure why that is, but it's best to go by your labs range since that's where the testing was done. Thus, I think you can rest assured that your value is "negative" even though some ds-DNA was detected. Apparently, most people will have some of this antibody because it's the way the body works. It's only when it reaches really high levels that something is out of whack.

You want to know if you should request the other tests like the ENA's? And possibly the anticardiolipins? I would think it would be appropriate to ask for those tests given your symptoms and borderline positive ANA.

As for the pattern of your ANA, it could be quite meaningul. I read that they are found in 60-70% of scleroderma patients, about 25% of SLE patients, and about 10% of RA patients and rarely seen in any other connective tissue disease. So you might want to be tested for the scl-70 antibodies as well.

Good luck - I hope you have a good doctor and you get some answers soon.

[fexaloo]

Thanks for your reply. I was confused with the info regarding a ds-DNA level over 30 being mildly positive and my lab readings being 0 - 200 IU/Ml listed as negative. Thanks again