I went through the same exact thing with blood test. My ANA was low the first time 1:40 RNP6.1 the second time ANA 1:80 but this time no RNP ran. Third time ANA negative but RNP was 7.8. My main problem was fatigue, and this rash on my hand. Well it was not really a rash, but the back of my hands was really red/purplish color, especially in the cold.
What was your RNP level? also was the SM antibody negative or what?
After almost two years of odd symptoms and lots of doctors, the last rheumy and derm determined that I do have MCTD just that I am not the usual case in regards to the ANA. I am on Plaquenil, just started so I have not seen much improvement yet , except my hands only get red/purple in really when it is cold, but my hand joint seems stiffer.
Keep at the doctors, even if you have to go to several. Don't give up.

bb

The ANA can fluctuate a lot. Mine has been as high as 1:1080 and as low as 1:80. The ANA doesn't mean much for the diagnosis of MCTD, it just means something autoimmune is going on. The critical one for MCTD is the RNP. If you got a positive one of those, you got MCTD!
-kate

My ANA was positive 1:20 and RNP was 2. SM negative.

I know. That is what has me so perplexed. I have been sick for the greater part of 9 months and that test result is the closest I have come to a diagnosis. My SED rate and C - Reactive Protein have also been high at times, CRP 20,can't remember the SED Rate. Usually when I have blood drawn I am already taking prednisone, so I wonder if that could be throwing off the lab results. I have fevers, fatigue, shortness of breath, muscle weakness, cloudy urine with debris in it, Raynauds, light sensitivity, and rare breakouts of mouth ulcers and skin rashes on sun exposed areas, Vitamin D and B12 deficiency. I have been tested for just about everything under the sun. I am concerned that we are going down the wrong path with the diagnosis and treatment, but I don't have any better ideas. It kind of feels like a game of darts. Any ideas?

Tammi, I know if you B12 is low, you can get all the symptoms you are listing. You have something going on if you CRP is 20 with being on Preds. I have been told that that medication pretty much can mess up your blood work. Can you be off of it for a few months and then have all your blood test ran again? Did they do a CBC and see if you are anemic? And even if it normal, the steriods could affect those results. If you have had the CBC done, take a look at your RBC, Hgb, and RDW and platelet. I know if your CRP is high, your lab results may not be a true reading. I am guessing that your MCH, MCV were high or your MMA(which measures your B store vit) low and that is how they determined that you have a def. Vit b-12.

I wonder about doctors sometimes, reading test result as normal, but they forget what medication you are on that could effect the results. They are in such a rush to get out the door and just look for the "L" or "H" on a lab.

Like I said before, take charge of your health and why medicine is called a "practice".

bb

Sorry for the delay. I have had tons of tests, but the only results I could locate are the following: CRP 21.1, Sed Rate 21, WBC, HGB, RDW, MCH and MCV all within normal ranges, RBC low and B12 was off the charts high (

Tammie, to me it sounds like you have maybe some infection causing the high CRP and SED. I know when I had a sinus infection my CRP was really high and my RBC on the low side. RBC can be low from immune, infection, etc. You also could be anemic even thou your Hgb is in the normal range. My other thought, do you have inflammation anywhere?

I am not sure the cause of high B-12 unless you are taking extra supplements.

bb

Since I first got sick last summer, I have had inflammation most of the time. Skin rashes in sun exposed areas and joints among others. The B12 was high because I had recently had an injection.

I recently completed a 16 day cycle of Medrol and had labs taken. My ANA and RNP were a little higher but my C Reactive Protein was a lot higher....31. I was hoping it would get better with the steroids but it hasn't. Maybe it just seems high to me because I am a newbie??? I am thankful that I am not feeling worse. Is it normal to have lab results getting worse but actually feel better? I'm now starting a 30 day script of of Prednisone.