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.
This is what I found on the wrb for ssDNA. My levels are high and I'd like to know what my Dr. should be doing.
The recent guidelines for the clinical use of antinuclear antibody tests issued by a Committee of the College of American Pathologists (CAP), suggest widespread misunderstanding of the clinical value of testing for the level of anti-ssDNA (single-stranded DNA or total DNA) IgG antibodies. This misunderstanding may stem from misconceptions about the manner in which clinicians use, in clinical context, immunoassays that have results expressed on a wide numerical scale. When the anti-ssDNA antibody (Ab) test is used for the differential diagnosis of new patients suspected of an inflammatory rheumatic disease the clinical sensitivity for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is close to 100%, and the specificity about 85%. Since anti-dsDNA (double stranded DNA) is present in only about 65% of new SLE patients, an abnormal anti-ssDNA Ab test in the remaining 35% provides the clinician with a valuable clue to search for other criteria for SLE. Contrary to a widely held belief that anti-ss-DNA Ab occurs frequently in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), anti-ssDNA is present only in 1015% of this patient population and then at relatively low levels. There is evidence that anti-ssDNA, like anti-dsDNA, is involved in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis. Moreover, the increase in anti-ssDNA Ab level appeared to be the best predictor of forthcoming increase in anti-dsDNA and SLE flare. In a context of symptoms different from those of rheumatic diseases, anti-ssDNA antibodies may be elevated in a relatively high proportion of patients with any of several diseases; leukemia, preeclampsia, chronic hepatitis, renal complications of diabetes, and some inflammatory neurological diseases. In conclusion, anti-ssDNA helps to rule out SLE, helps in the diagnosis of SLE when anti-dsDNA is not present and is useful in follow-up of SLE patients. Like most other quantifiable laboratory indicators of abnormality, anti-ssDNA Ab test is also useful in clinical context for the diagnosis and prognosis of several other condition.
The recent guidelines for the clinical use of antinuclear antibody tests issued by a Committee of the College of American Pathologists (CAP), suggest widespread misunderstanding of the clinical value of testing for the level of anti-ssDNA (single-stranded DNA or total DNA) IgG antibodies. This misunderstanding may stem from misconceptions about the manner in which clinicians use, in clinical context, immunoassays that have results expressed on a wide numerical scale. When the anti-ssDNA antibody (Ab) test is used for the differential diagnosis of new patients suspected of an inflammatory rheumatic disease the clinical sensitivity for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is close to 100%, and the specificity about 85%. Since anti-dsDNA (double stranded DNA) is present in only about 65% of new SLE patients, an abnormal anti-ssDNA Ab test in the remaining 35% provides the clinician with a valuable clue to search for other criteria for SLE. Contrary to a widely held belief that anti-ss-DNA Ab occurs frequently in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), anti-ssDNA is present only in 1015% of this patient population and then at relatively low levels. There is evidence that anti-ssDNA, like anti-dsDNA, is involved in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis. Moreover, the increase in anti-ssDNA Ab level appeared to be the best predictor of forthcoming increase in anti-dsDNA and SLE flare. In a context of symptoms different from those of rheumatic diseases, anti-ssDNA antibodies may be elevated in a relatively high proportion of patients with any of several diseases; leukemia, preeclampsia, chronic hepatitis, renal complications of diabetes, and some inflammatory neurological diseases. In conclusion, anti-ssDNA helps to rule out SLE, helps in the diagnosis of SLE when anti-dsDNA is not present and is useful in follow-up of SLE patients. Like most other quantifiable laboratory indicators of abnormality, anti-ssDNA Ab test is also useful in clinical context for the diagnosis and prognosis of several other condition.
Are you seeing a rheumatologist yet? If so, they should know what to do when putting your symptoms and blood work together. If he seems clueless, you need to find another dr. Alot of "GOOD" rheumatologists treat symptoms and dont just go by bloodwork. Reason being that auto-immune disease blood work cannot always be reliable. I have been in a horrible flare and my blood work was normal. Some people have high ANA's and dont have lupus or any other mixed conn. tissue disease. This is why it can be difficult to get a diagnosis of lupus. You may have another mixed conn. tissue disease which can cause your anti-dna to be elevated. You could also have lupus...
If you feel sick and your blood work is elevated, your rheumy should be trying you on a medication to see if you improve. That is really the true test. If you start to feel better, there is an auto-immune issue going on. The meds they use dont usually make people feel any better if they dont have a rheumatological disease. You may want to ask if they will try you on a low dose of pred for a few weeks. That usually starts to improve symptoms immediately. At least it does for me.
It can be frustrating being your own dr. and trying harder to figure out whats wrong with you then it seems the dr.'s are doing at times. We are here to try to help you.
Hugs
Melissa