Lupus Q & A

I am writing in for my sister-in-law. She has been diagnosed with SLE and is having a very rough time. As of now, she is being treated with methotrexate (injection) and prednisone. We have heard about a treatment combining MTX with another medication that, in some patients, has reduced or eliminating the need for the steroids. Do you have any facts on this; if so, please share them with me. Also, do you know of medications that will help her have more energy throughout her treatments?

ANA level was 1:640? mine just came back that high.

Can you tell me what an elevated total compliment blood test means. I understand this may be related to a collagen or autoimmue disease. I have been advised to see a doctor of rheumatology. My blood test was over 200 and normal is suppose to be between 0-50. Thank you very much.

For several years I have had recurrent unexplainable illnesses, rashes and arthritis-like symptoms. Finally during my last episode, I requested an ANA test, which returned positive. My doctor and I both felt like we were finally getting to the bottom of things and he referred me to a rheumatologist, but by the time I could get in to see him, I was well again (6 weeks). The rheumatologist was not interested in hearing about any past illnesses, only what he could observe, which at the time was nothing. He re-did the ANA test, which returned negative this time and sent me away feeling like I had wasted both his and my time. After years of dead ends I was feeling hopeful that I was on the right track, but now it appears that I am back at square one. I have been told that healthy people can have positive ANA tests, but I am not healthy. Can a person’s ANA fluctuate between positive and negative when they are sick/not sick?

I am a forty year old women normally in good health. I received a positive result on two separate ANA tests (1:2560, homogeneous), which is apparently quite high. Subtest scores were all negative except Anti-scl-70 (2.0), anti-SM (1.1). I went to the doctor for the following symptoms: fatigue, anxiety, nausea, cold flashes. These symptoms came on all of a sudden and have persisted for three months. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s 28 years ago. Could Hashimoto’s explain such a high ANA test result. Over the past five years my TSH has ranged from 29 to .03 with no known cause for the jumps. My TSH, T3, T4 etc. are now in the normal range. I have been treated for chronic depression for 8 years, but with these current symptoms, my Psychiatrist is convinced that something physical is going on. I do not have pain in my joints, or extrimities or thickening skin patches to suggest Scleroderma, though I occasionally have difficulty in swallowing, and find myself more easily winded than normal. Is Scleroderma the only autoimmune condition to give a positive Anti-scl-70 result? According to my lab results anything >1.0 is positive. Is a positive result just a positive result, or do degrees make a difference. I am trying to get an appointment with a Cleveland Clinic Rheumatologist, but nothing is available for 5 weeks. In the meantime, I have not been able to carry out my normally active schedule, and more than that, I am frightened and not sure how to procede. My internist was not particularly concerned by the ANA test, my endocrinologist was. Most autoimmune diseases/syndromes are quite rare. Is it possible that such a large ANA Titer means nothing? Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

I am a SLE patients with CNS Involvement and severe arthritis pain. I have been on prednisone and Plaquenil for over 8 years. The prednisone is now doing damage to my bones. My Rheumatologist wants me either in Methotrexate or Imuran. I like to know what is the difference (side effects, etc) and know which would be better for me.