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Joint Pain & Abnormal ANA
I'm a first-timer to your website but think it's rather great.
I have suffered from pain in multiple joints since I was a teenager (now a 54 year old) but it has been worse for the last few years. In March 2007 I had an abnormal ANA of 1:240 and this month it was 1:915. The "reflex" testing has so far been negative including RF and ESR.
A new rheumatologist said that the only thing he could think would cause this was lupus but so far the tests have been negative. Is it possible to have this high of an ANA without a definitive diagnosis? :confused: Is it possible to have lupus and these other tests be normal?
Answer:
Joint Pain & Abnormal ANA
Help...Anybody? I'm to have a hip replacement in two weeks and really need an answer. Will Dr. Joshua respond to this site? Thanks.
Answer:
Joint Pain & Abnormal ANA
Hi cgill01,
Sorry to hear about your troubles. It is possible to have a high ANA and have nothing wrong, but since you're symptomatic there's probably something going on. I would look into a diagnosis called Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease. People with UCTD have symptoms of connective tissue diseases (such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, etc.) and may have abnormal blood tests (such as the high ANA) but do not have the characteristic symptoms to determine which connective tissue disease they have. Patients either stay with the diagnosis of UCTD or are later diagnosed with a specific connective tissue disease if they progress to show more characteristic symptoms. It is possible for you to have lupus or go on to develop it at some point, but you can't be diagnosed with it without more characteristic signs or you risk getting a series of diagnoses that don't stick. Here's a link about UCTD:
Here's one about the diagnostic criteria for lupus: You should discuss all of your concerns with your doctors. Good luck with that hip replacement and keep us posted.
Answer:
Joint Pain & Abnormal ANA
Thanks Beckham, the UCTD sounds like it fits right now. I'll discuss this with my rheumatologist when I see him next. Guess only time will tell if it develops into anything else. I'll focus on getting through the hip replacement for now and try to be patient.