Lupus Support Group
Lupus is an auto-immune disease in which the immune system cannot distinguish between threats (like viruses and bacteria), and healthy cells and tissue. As a result, the body produces antibodies that inflict cell damage, most commonly targeting joints, skin, kidneys and the nervous system. Join the group and find support for coping with lupus.
I recently went to a different Rhuemy and had blood work which came back positive for anti-SM and Anti-RNP which is a positive indicator for Lupus. I find this very disturbing because my other Rhuemy did the same blood work and it was neg. for both of these antibodies. When I inquired about how this could happen the new Rhuemy said his immunology lab was world reknown so I guess he was telling me that not all blood work is accurate. What's the point of having blood work if it is not accurate?!?
Has anyone else had this happen? I started reading articles about the different ways of processing blood and was quite amazed that every lab would not use the gold standard of accuracy. I know a lot of you have had a slow process to diagnosis too but I was told in 2007 I had Lupus but then was diagnosed with Sjogren's instead even though I have had transient joint pain, muscle cramps, migraines, photosensitivity, Proteinuria, APS, Raynauds and cognitive disfunction.
Has anyone else had this happen? I started reading articles about the different ways of processing blood and was quite amazed that every lab would not use the gold standard of accuracy. I know a lot of you have had a slow process to diagnosis too but I was told in 2007 I had Lupus but then was diagnosed with Sjogren's instead even though I have had transient joint pain, muscle cramps, migraines, photosensitivity, Proteinuria, APS, Raynauds and cognitive disfunction.
Many times rheumies will wean patients off of know medication that can effect lab results so they are sure to get accurate readings, prednisone is one of the most common.
Melissa
The blood work was done 1 month apart and I was on Plaquinel only.
APS can also cause many of your symptoms and it can go along with lupus, mctd, sjrogens, etc. Alot of AI disease's go hand in hand for some.
Its not necessarily a lab not processing your blood correctly. Many times blood work can be a hit and miss when you have Lupus or rheumatological disease's. It can be like winning the lottery at times. Its what is being produced in our bodies at that particular time, which can change 2 days later. Does that make sense? And, plaquenil can alter certain blood work results as can prednisone. Its not uncommon for us to test positive for weird viruses either. I tested positive for HIV, Herpes, and hepatitis all of which were false. Since 2007 your blood work was different, it could be because the antibodies had not been producing themselves regularly enough to have them show up in your blood work. Some feel sick for years with negative tests and then all of a sudden they come back positive....
So again, its not that the labs may be inaccurately running your blood work. Its that our blood work can just be "In accurate" at times.
Now, the question is, are you being treated now for Lupus? What is this dr. going to do for you?
Melissa