Around 25% of healthy adults will test positive on the ANA test
(antinuclear antibody) for lupus. Sometimes they use a most
stringent guideline for the test results, and that number goes
down. However, because the ANA test isn't reliable, if patients
aren't having a decent amount of the other symptoms (malar rash,
photosensitivity, mouth sores, joint pain, fever, hair loss, chest
pain), it usually isn't diagnosed as Lupus. Having RA can also
increase your chances of a positive ANA test.
MTX can take up to 3 months to reach full effectiveness, and even then
may not result in a total remission (that is the case for many people
who post here). But, if it is helping you, chances are that means
that you have some sort of RA going on.
Luck to you!
Hi there. My bloodwork was indicative of both RA and lupus. When I was first tested, I tested positive for: RF, ANA, Anti-CCP, Anti-Sm, Anti-RNP antibodies, and had an elevated C-Reactive Protein and sed-rate.
ANA and RF aren't very specific tests (people can test positive) and may or may not have RA or Lupus. And the latter two are just indicative of inflammation. But the Anti-CCP was supposed to be fairly specific for RA and the Anti-Sm and Anti-RNP tests are typically only positive in those who have lupus. But, I never developed lupus symptoms, and only have joint pain, so my RD went with the RA diagnosis. at least for now. There is the possibility apparently that lupus symptoms may emerge later, which would really really suck. Do you know what test it was that made your doctor suspect lupus?
Anyway, I know how confusing it is for the diagnosis to be so ambiguous. I recommend that you pay attention to the various symptoms that you have and tell your doctor about any new problems. It may be that with more information, your diagnosis may change as time goes on.
And just to throw a bit of confusion into the mix, you can also have sero-negative Lupus!
One has to go more by the criteria than the testing, I guess.