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What Does An Elevated ANA Level In Blood Indicate?
Posted on
Mon, 7 Dec 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Mon, 7 Dec 2015
Answered on
Mon, 4 Jan 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : Hello
I recently was seen by an internal dr. My ana and sma blood tests were elevated. I am going to have more tests. My question is what does this indicate.Im a 37 year old female.
Have had a gallbladder removal 13 yrs ago
Hypothyroid
Celiac
Was referred to internal because of hair loss, fatigue, joint pain, ill feeling.
The two tests that came back abnormal were smooth muscle and antinuclear antibody
I recently was seen by an internal dr. My ana and sma blood tests were elevated. I am going to have more tests. My question is what does this indicate.Im a 37 year old female.
Have had a gallbladder removal 13 yrs ago
Hypothyroid
Celiac
Was referred to internal because of hair loss, fatigue, joint pain, ill feeling.
The two tests that came back abnormal were smooth muscle and antinuclear antibody
Brief Answer:
Ana positive
Detailed Answer:
good evening
thank you for writing on health care magic
Well the symptoms you have mentioned along with ANA positive do go in favor of a connective tissue disease. I would like to know a few more queries to see if it fits in with the disease...
1. duration of your symptoms?
2. do you experience joint swelling also or is it just pain?
3. any oral ulcers or hair fall which has increased?
4. any history of rashes which get worse on sun exposure?
5/ how strong are the ANA titres...? like what I'd the value
do let me know these queries. would be able to guide you further from here
regards
dr naval
Ana positive
Detailed Answer:
good evening
thank you for writing on health care magic
Well the symptoms you have mentioned along with ANA positive do go in favor of a connective tissue disease. I would like to know a few more queries to see if it fits in with the disease...
1. duration of your symptoms?
2. do you experience joint swelling also or is it just pain?
3. any oral ulcers or hair fall which has increased?
4. any history of rashes which get worse on sun exposure?
5/ how strong are the ANA titres...? like what I'd the value
do let me know these queries. would be able to guide you further from here
regards
dr naval
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Ive had joint pain (only pain and stiffmess) for a couple years
No oral ulcers only blood blisters once in a while but i also clench my teeth.
Hairloss has increased in the past few months. Now hair on my legs as well... Growing in patches
I do have a history of unexplained rashes. And i do breakout after being in the sun
When i asked for lab results there was not a number. It said abnormal positive for both ana and asma
Thank you
No oral ulcers only blood blisters once in a while but i also clench my teeth.
Hairloss has increased in the past few months. Now hair on my legs as well... Growing in patches
I do have a history of unexplained rashes. And i do breakout after being in the sun
When i asked for lab results there was not a number. It said abnormal positive for both ana and asma
Thank you
Brief Answer:
Is it connective tissue disease
Detailed Answer:
Good evening
Well, there is a possibility of a connective tissue disease like Lupus considering the symptoms you are describing...Hair fall/Rashes/Photosenstivity/Joint pains along with abnormal ANA.
ANA can be false positive in Hypothyroid and Celiac disease patients as well.
It is important you ask your GP and get the exact titres of ANA along with ENA profile done. ENA profile is a further subset of ANA which checks all the antibodies which are a subset of ANA as the organ involvement will depend on these antibodies. It will help confirm if ANA is false positive or it is indicative of some other disease.
I would advise you further tests to confirm the diagnosis. I dont want you to panic, as it is still not confirmed but we need to rule out the more aggressive diseases before going to the milder ones.
1. ESR
2. ENA profile
3. Complement C3 C4
4. Urine routine
5. Anti DsDNA
6. Do update me with your Complete blood count, Liver function tests and renal function tests
7. 25 hydroxy vitamin D 3
Seek an appointment with your rheumatologist
Do let me know for more queries
REgards
Dr Naval
Is it connective tissue disease
Detailed Answer:
Good evening
Well, there is a possibility of a connective tissue disease like Lupus considering the symptoms you are describing...Hair fall/Rashes/Photosenstivity/Joint pains along with abnormal ANA.
ANA can be false positive in Hypothyroid and Celiac disease patients as well.
It is important you ask your GP and get the exact titres of ANA along with ENA profile done. ENA profile is a further subset of ANA which checks all the antibodies which are a subset of ANA as the organ involvement will depend on these antibodies. It will help confirm if ANA is false positive or it is indicative of some other disease.
I would advise you further tests to confirm the diagnosis. I dont want you to panic, as it is still not confirmed but we need to rule out the more aggressive diseases before going to the milder ones.
1. ESR
2. ENA profile
3. Complement C3 C4
4. Urine routine
5. Anti DsDNA
6. Do update me with your Complete blood count, Liver function tests and renal function tests
7. 25 hydroxy vitamin D 3
Seek an appointment with your rheumatologist
Do let me know for more queries
REgards
Dr Naval
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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