[ceebs]

Hello,

I'm new to this board but come here seeking advice and support because I'm scared. I found out yesterday I am ANA positive (1:80 titer) with no symptoms. My mom has advanced lupus, and family history of autoimmune.

We were trying for our second child (after two early miscarriages) when I found out I am ANA positive with speckled pattern.

Do you think there's a risk of triggering full-blown lupus with a second child? Does the stress on your body during pregnancy make a predisposition trigger disease? I'd really love insight... I'm at a crossroads, and want to make sure I don't jeopardize my health or my family in the future.

Thank you for any insight!

Ceebs

 

[cath]

Hi Ceebs,

Welcome to the forum.

I am very sorry to hear about your two recent miscarriages, and also your mum's lupus. I can imagine how worried you are.

Your concerns and questions are good ones. You are quite right that for some women, pregnancy can be a trigger for lupus in predisposed individuals. Also, being related to someone with lupus increases your chance of getting an AI disease yourself.

However, these are things that can be measures statistically amongst large groups. That does not mean that you specifically will ever develop lupus with or without a future pregnancy. That is unfortunately not possible to predict.

You may already know, but in children and siblings of lupus sufferers a positive ANA is a pretty common finding and does not mean that lupus is imminent. And the ANA titre is low enough that there is a good chance that for you it is indeed not significant. A titre of 640 or higher is more strongly assocoated with definate connective tissue disease.

How did you fare after the birth of your first child and after booth miscarriages? Did you at any time after each of these experience lupus like symptoms? I can't guarantee anything of course, but my suspicion is, if you had no problems with your first 3 pregnancies, it is probably not going to be a problem for a 4th. From personal experience I've had a lupus flare after each miscarriage except the very first (6 in total, 3 before lupus &APS diagnosis, 3 after).Has a cause for the last 2 miscarriages been identified, or have you had the screening tests for APS, factor 5 leiden, karyotyping etc? There is growing support fora change in protocol towards testing after 2 instead of 3 miscarriages. Testing positive for APS would be another evidence point in favour of a risk of develping lupus too, and conversely if you're negative perhapd a reason to be quietly confident that you could safely add to your family.

Ultimately this has to be a decision for you and your partner. And being a parent with lupus is not a wholly bad thing. Difficult sure, but still worth it (so say many of our members anyway:wink2.

Hope this helps:blush:

X C X

 

[LolaLola]

Hello Ceebs,
What Cath has said about positive ANA in Daughters of Lupus Mums is quite right.
An APS test is a very good idea though.
If you have age on your side it may be worth taking a little time to get this test done and maybe get yourself in really good shape.

Best of Luck,
x Lola

 

[ceebs]

Thank you!

Thank you for your responses and information. It's really nice knowing I'm not alone, and I really appreciate the advice and wisdom.
Dumb question I'm sure, but what's the APA test?

 

[ceebs]

I mean APS test!

 

[Joandublin]

Hi Ceebs

APS is short for Anti Phospholipid Syndrome - basically a blood clotting disorder that can be either a primary condition of its own or a secondary condition to Lupus. One of the indicators of APS can be recurrent miscarriages. APS is also known as Hughes Syndrome (named after the doctor who discovered it). Here is a link to their site which is very well presented and easy to follow:

http://www.hughes-syndrome.org/

There are two blood screening tests. The first one is for Anticardiolipin Antibodies (aCL) and the second one is for the Lupus Anticoagulant (LA). Dont be confused though. The second one might be called Lupus Anticoagulant but its not actually related to Lupus. Its rather badly named actually.

Have a look at the site and see if anything sounds familiar to you. The tests are repeated about six weeks apart and both must be positive to be considered. Thats because there can be other causes for a one off 'positive' result. A formal diagnosis of APS is usually not made unless other criteria are met as well such as a blood clotting incident, recurring miscarriages, etc.

With your personal and family history it would be a good idea to ask about these blood tests. APS can be very easily controlled for many people by a simple blood thinning agent like Aspirin. Others may have to take Heparin or Warfarin. However it can wreak havoc if its not controlled :worried:

Nice to meet you and I wish you all the best with your decision.

Take care for now
Joan:rose:

 

[kirstytwin]

Hi Ceebs,

I was tested for positivefor APS after I had a stillbirth, combined with my boys being low birth weights.

I was monitered closely with my next preganacy and had to take asprin, though was told it could have been wafrin or heparin.

Good luck in your future pregancies

Kirsty xx