Testing for autoimmune diseases
 

Hi everyone. I was diagnosed with small fiber neuropathy about 18 months ago. At the time, in trying to determine a cause, I was tested for a number of autoimmune diseases (Sjogren's, etc.) by blood tests. The result was negative for everything, so my SFN is considered "idiopathic."

Should I get re-tested for autoimmune diseases, now that it's been 18 months? How often should I get re-tested? Are there other types of tests I should undergo (beyond blood tests)?

I also have fibromyalgia and was cleared for thyroid problems.

Thanks, everyone!
APJH

It depends--
 

--on how thorough the autoimmune testing was.

Often rheumatologists test for the anti-nuclear antibody related autoimmune conditions and a number of other antibodies to specific organs (i.e., thyroid), but many are not cognizant of the antibodies specific to peripheral nerve; it usually takes going to a specialist treatment center for that.

Two links that may be helpful, so you can compare what testing you've had:

The serological paper authored by neuropathy expert Dr. Norman Latov for Quest diagnostics:

http://www.questdiagnostics.com/test...ripheralNeurop

And the Liza Jane spreadsheets, which were designed to be about as comprehensive a listing of tests for neurologic symptoms as the best minds here could come up with:

www.lizajane.org

Hi APJH
 

Hi, glad you found the forum. There is a huge range of auto immune diseases. Mayo clinic did one in particular on me that got to the core of my issues. T @ B lymphocytes. These are the helper cells, that normally attack, colds, flu and other illnesses. With auto immune disease, these cells are called out on the attack but forget where they are going, and attack a person as a foreign object. The flight to fight response is effected. Many of the auto immune diseases are from this kind of pathology. I hope that you feel better soon. ginnie:grouphug: