Q: ana, - lupus tests, yet have 8/11 symptoms of lupus including severe blistering facial rash, antibiotics fail to help, ongoing <1yr, could plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) help?

Yes: Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) will often help if you truly have lupus. That decision needs to be made in concert with a rheumatologist. Has the rash been biopsied?

Q: had tight chest, dizziness, nausea, fatigue etc for 2 months...some dysautonomia. bloods normal except ana of 1:320 speckled, lupus tests neg. ideas?

Ganglionopathy?: This could be due to autoimmune ganglionopathy which is inflammation of the autonomic ganglia. This may occur following a viral infection or in association with an underlying connective tissue disease such as lupus which may or may not fully manifest itself. You need autonomic testing and anti-neuronal antibodies for evaluation. The condition is treatable with steroids and immunosuppression.

Q: rash, fatigue, joint pain flares, muscle weakness, depression, anxiety. no fibro hot spots. negative lupus tests. don't see what else it could be?

Many possibilities: Need more info. Where is the rash. How long have you had symptoms? Lots of viral infections, lyme disease, side effect of medication, sarcoid, rheumatoid arthritis, mononucleosis, scleroderma, B12 deficiency, porphyria, coxsackie infection, hepatitis. Suggest more blood tests. I don't want to make you nervous, it may very well be a viral etiology that will go away. I hope so.

Q: joint pain, muscle pain, facial rashes, tremors, itchy rashes after sun exposure, fatigue. saw rheumatologist, all lupus tests negative+ blood normal?

See details: I am not sure what you are asking. You need to discuss the situation with your rheumatologist. There are patients with lupus who do not have positive blood tests. There are also other explanations for your symptoms. Lupus remains an uncommon diagnosis in males so you may want to look for another explanation.

Q: i'm from the state of wyoming & have lupus. my tests while living there were very high. now live in michigan & all come back negative is this normal?

Unusual: However it is theoretically possible if you had far more sun exposure in Wyoming than in Michigan given that sunlight can induce LE. On the other hand, your problem may be from another autoimmune disease . If you are feeling well otherwise, no test is needed. But if you do have symptoms then I would suggest repeating the test in case there was a blood sample mix-up.

Q: could i have lupus? what tests are there for a diagnosis?

Clinical and lab DX!: Your pcp can address this by identifying the clinical features of systemic lupus erythematosus, and the positive laboratory tests to confirm this diagnosis. Since many lupus features can be found in many other conditions, see your doctor!

Q: how many lupus anticoagulant tests are there?

many: There are tests for 3 forms of anticardiolipin antibodies, 3 forms of antiphospholipid antibodies, russell viper coagulation test and tests for specific components of coagulation and general tests (e.g., prothrombin time).

Question 1

why do lupus tests sometimes come back negative?

Accepted Answer

Not 100 %: There re several tests for lupus ana, double stranded dna and none of these tests is 100 per cent reliable for the diagnosis of lupus. A similar situation occurs in rheumatoid arthritis where there seedless negatives as well as false positives. If there is akin involvement a skin biopsy for direct exam as well as immunoflourescence can help with diagnosis.

Question 2

experiencing a host of symptoms including fatigue+constant muscle fasciculations all over my body. passed neurological exams and negative lupus tests?

Accepted Answer

Fasciculations: The most common cause of fatigue is usually related to your sleep (at your age).  Make sure you're getting 7-8 hours of sleep per night.  Are you overweight or have a thick, short neck?  Sleep apnea is a very common cause of fatigue.  Weightlifters or those who exercise excessively, or those who take stimulants are prone to fasciculations.

Question 3

i have joint pain, edema, sun rash, headaches, fatigue. all lupus tests - except ro/ss-a was +. my rheum. said a type of skin lupus. what kind is it?

Accepted Answer

Lupus types: There are a few different classifications of lupus.  Systemic lupus is the most common and involves many organ systems.  Cutaneous lupus generally only involves the skin, but a percentage of people will develop or reveal that they have the systemic variety.  Drug induced and neonatal lupus are two other, less common forms.

Question 4

ana, - lupus tests, yet have 8/11 symptoms of lupus including severe blistering facial rash, antibiotics fail to help, ongoing <1yr, could plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) help?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) will often help if you truly have lupus. That decision needs to be made in concert with a rheumatologist. Has the rash been biopsied?

Question 5

had tight chest, dizziness, nausea, fatigue etc for 2 months...some dysautonomia. bloods normal except ana of 1:320 speckled, lupus tests neg. ideas?

Accepted Answer

Ganglionopathy?: This could be due to autoimmune ganglionopathy which is inflammation of the autonomic ganglia. This may occur following a viral infection or in association with an underlying connective tissue disease such as lupus which may or may not fully manifest itself. You need autonomic testing and anti-neuronal antibodies for evaluation. The condition is treatable with steroids and immunosuppression.

Question 6

rash, fatigue, joint pain flares, muscle weakness, depression, anxiety. no fibro hot spots. negative lupus tests. don't see what else it could be?

Accepted Answer

Many possibilities: Need more info.  Where is the rash.  How long have you
had symptoms?  Lots of viral infections, lyme disease, 
side effect of medication,  sarcoid,  rheumatoid arthritis, 
mononucleosis, scleroderma,  B12 deficiency, porphyria, coxsackie infection, hepatitis.  Suggest more
blood tests.  I don't want to make you nervous, it may very well be a viral etiology that will go away. I hope so.

Question 7

joint pain, muscle pain, facial rashes, tremors, itchy rashes after sun exposure, fatigue. saw rheumatologist, all lupus tests negative+ blood normal?

Accepted Answer

See details: I am not sure what you are asking. You need to discuss the situation with your rheumatologist. There are patients with lupus who do not have positive blood tests. There are also other explanations for your symptoms. Lupus remains an uncommon diagnosis in males so you may want to look for another explanation.

Question 8

i'm from the state of wyoming & have lupus.  my tests while living there were very high. now live in michigan & all come back negative is this normal?

Accepted Answer

Unusual: However it is theoretically possible if you had far more sun exposure in Wyoming than in Michigan given that sunlight can induce LE.  On the other hand, your problem may be from another autoimmune disease . If you are feeling well otherwise, no test is needed. But if you do have symptoms then I would suggest repeating the test in case there was a  blood sample mix-up.

Question 9

could i have lupus? what tests are there for a diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Clinical and lab DX!: Your pcp can address this by identifying the clinical features of systemic lupus erythematosus, and the positive  laboratory tests to confirm this diagnosis.  Since many lupus features can be found in many other conditions, see your doctor!

Question 10

how many lupus anticoagulant tests are there?

Accepted Answer

many: There are tests for 3 forms of anticardiolipin antibodies, 3 forms of antiphospholipid antibodies, russell viper coagulation test and tests for specific components of coagulation and general tests (e.g., prothrombin time).

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Doctor answers about:

Lupus tests

A member asked:

Why do lupus tests sometimes come back negative?

A member asked:

Experiencing a host of symptoms including fatigue+constant muscle fasciculations all over my body. passed neurological exams and negative lupus tests?

A member asked:

I have joint pain, edema, sun rash, headaches, fatigue. all lupus tests - except ro/ss-a was +. my rheum. said a type of skin lupus. what kind is it?

A member asked:

Ana, - lupus tests, yet have 8/11 symptoms of lupus including severe blistering facial rash, antibiotics fail to help, ongoing <1yr, could plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) help?

A member asked:

Had tight chest, dizziness, nausea, fatigue etc for 2 months...some dysautonomia. bloods normal except ana of 1:320 speckled, lupus tests neg. ideas?

A member asked:

Rash, fatigue, joint pain flares, muscle weakness, depression, anxiety. no fibro hot spots. negative lupus tests. don't see what else it could be?

A member asked:

Joint pain, muscle pain, facial rashes, tremors, itchy rashes after sun exposure, fatigue. saw rheumatologist, all lupus tests negative+ blood normal?

A member asked:

I'm from the state of wyoming & have lupus. my tests while living there were very high. now live in michigan & all come back negative is this normal?

A member asked:

Could i have lupus? what tests are there for a diagnosis?

A member asked:

How many lupus anticoagulant tests are there?

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