question with blood work

[lauralee]

Just wanted to ask a question, will abnormal blood work show up if they are testing for autoiammue disorder lupus, sorjens others only during a flair up.  Or positive ana ect.

Thanks
Laurie

[lauralee]

Can all of you please reply to my post feeling kinda anxious about this, know you guys are busy.

Dont mean to bother you, just wondering if anyone has some information on the question about bloodwork.

thank you all so much for your time

Laurie

[Linda196]

Laurie, antibody counts can fluctuate, but there doesn't seem to be that much corelation to flares, so I would think the answer to your question is yes, abnormal results will show up even if you aren't in a flare.

[Epson]

Laurie,

I would have to agree with Linda, first of all she knows more then I do about blood tests and number two, my ANA can be between 1280 and 320 and I can't say that I feel any worse when the ANA is higher, but maybe I'm a medical freak

[dayng1016]

Hi Laurie,
In my experience, even before I was diagnosed with any specific autoimmune disease, when I had my blood work done, my ANA has only climbed.  I was not experiencing any type of flare, and it has always went up.  Since my diagnosis, my ANA, RA and SSA/SSB have been elevated, even without being in a flare.  But other blood work like CBC, CMP, vitamin levels have always been normal (flare or no flare).  So, it can definitely fluctuate and I don't think necessarily being in a flare will show positive results.  It's very possible to have negative results while in a flare. 

Good luck and hope this helps a little.
Pam

[tuckerdog]

Laurie,

It has been my experience that the autoimmune serological tests are flakey (I am a med tech).  These include ANA, Sjogrens antibody, ANA etc.  If they are positive that tells you that probably something autoimmine is going on (but not exactly what), if they are negative, it doesn't mean you don't have an autoimmune condition.  The titres go up and down and don't seem to correlate with anything.  My Dr is not going to do any of them anymore because it does not make any sense.  I have a positive lip biopsy and a positive shirmers - we're done - we have a dx.  No point in doing those flakey serological tests anymore. 

Patients agonize over their serological results thinking that they are in the same analytical category as a cholesterol or a CBC - they are not!

Tuckerdog

[eyeamdry]

After taking all the meds for two years, my tests are all within normal, although I still have Sjogrens.  It's under control or in remission, I guess.  I just haven't told my lips and eyes that we are in remission and to straighten up.  Lucy

[elise]

I would of thought so yes

From Elise xx