We DO know that Alan has at least one autoimmune condition--though, admittedly, psoriasis is not particularly associated with positive ANA titers--still, while there can be ANA "false positives", it is worth checking out some of the more specific tests to see what kind of ANA is showing up (speckled, bouble-banded, etc.) as these have greater/lesser associations with various types of autoimmune disorders.

Take a look at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-nuclear_antibody

http://www.rheumatology.org/practice...itions/ana.asp

Glen:

Just asked Alan "Didn't you go to a rheumatologist some years ago?"

Alan said "Yeah, and he ran blood blood work, and nothing showed up"

Now how can a person have autoimmune issues (and all his doctors ran autoimmune blood work including his neuro), and NOTHING EVER SHOWED UP.

I guess we shall never know.

I should have remembered that Alan had all that blood work done.

He had EXTENSIVE blood work done when he had the reaction to taking Celebrex. I remember the doctor from Hematology coming in and saying "We have two labs that do blood work, we have the labs that we send blood out to, and we have MY lab upstairs in hematology and I sent his blood to MY lab. I just want to make sure we are not missing anything."

Everything came back as NOTHING.

We need a Dr. House.

Thanks very much Glen. Hope to see you at the meeting.

By the way, did your wife make any cakes? lol

Melody

Melody,

I have seen some of your posts and videos from PN meetings, but don't know much about Alan's diagnosis or symptoms. But I can say that Lupus is certainly not the only autoimmune disease associated with a positive ANA. So a work up beyond lupus should be done. As Glenn says, more detailed info about the results of his test...as in how high the level was and what pattern (speckled, double banded, etc) would be helpful.

Are there specific symptoms he has that you have no explanation for that you think might be autoimmune?

Of course, PN is associated with some autoimmune conditions. Do you have a diagnosis for his PN? Or is it idiopathic?

It is definitely possible to be sero-negative (no positive blood work) with an autoimmune disease. Blood tests for AI disease are more for 'markers' of the disease, not ones showing an active disease process. Actually, almost 40% of Sjogren's patients are sero-negative. I am one and was diagnosed by salivary gland biopsy. Sometimes blood markers turn positive years after diagnosis, sometime they don't.

That said, anytime a positive ANA appears, ALL autoimmune conditions should be explored, if the patient is experiencing any unexplained symptoms.

It's best to know 'what' tests were run and the results. Extensive to one doctor may not be extensive to another.

HI. Alan has idiopathic PN. No other symtoms. He's been tested for everything under the sun. He does have psoriasis.

Very frustrating.

Thanks much

Melody

If there is no other symptoms/problems, I wouldn't worry about the ANA. Should that change, then he should consider another work up.

How can it change? It's always positive. Do you mean, if it ever goes from positive to negative??

Thanks,
Melody

I meant if he starts to have unexplained symptoms (a change from no other symptoms now)...then have another work up.

Glenn;

I just pm'd you.

Melody