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Help needed with interpreting blood results!

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lily65668
lily65668

Can anyone help me with my recent blood results?

- ANA positive, homegenous fluorescence

- Anti-dsANA titer 135 IU/ml (norm <20)

- Anti-dsANA (immunoblotting) positive

All other AI tests negative. I'm a former nurse but we weren't taught a lot about AI diseases when I trained >50 years ago. I've just done a bit of research, and this seems to indicate SLE rather than SS - though I don't know a lot about this. However, SLE has never been mentioned in the past.

A somewhat more alarming result is an IgG for chlamydia trachomatis of 103 AU/mL (positive = 11). IgA for the same thing is normal. I've never tested positive for chlamydia in the past and haven't been sexually active for 30 years. Does anyone know what's going on here?

I see the pathologist has recommended a urine test using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to confirm this.

I know I've posted on here about my SS history before, but just to recap for those who didn't see earlier posts.

74-year-old female, assorted Sjogren's symptoms for 23 years, tentative diagnosis via inflammation markers ordered by rheumatologist 13 years ago. She said it looked like Sjogren's but wanted a lip biopsy. I refused, as I understood the possible complications and also didn't have a dry mouth at that time. Dry mouth was my first SS symptom 23 years ago, severe at first but only lasted about a year. Since then it's only been intermittent, and rarely severe. (No dry-mouth dental problems.)

In the past few years dry eyes have been more of a problem, suddenly escalating a year ago. I've seen three ophthalmologists this year, two of whom have diagnosed SS - one on visual inspection, one on zero-tears Schirmer. Both told me I could never have a cataract op because of this, which is worrying to say the least, as my cataracts are starting to become a problem.

The most recent ophtho was an eye-surface specialist, and the first one to have examined the inside of my eyelids. She said I do have some tears (on the Schirmer) but very little oil in right eye, none at all in left. She explained that tears are irrelevant in the absence of oil, since it's the oil that stops the tears evaporating as soon as they're formed.

She said I had severe scarring of the conjunctiva on both eyes which has blocked up the oil glands. Said it was so severe it was consistent with healed childhood trachoma (though I never lived in tropical countries as a child). She's the one who ordered the blood tests- hence the chlamydia tests.

I'll go and see my GP next week to see if he can cast any light on all the above results, and maybe order the PCR urine test, but I'd be very grateful for any views more experienced sufferers may have - particularly on the ANA stuff.

0 likes, 2 replies

2 Replies

  • dryguy
    dryguy lily65668

    Posted

    The bloods like most who have SS or indeed most AI are useless ... they indicate little. ANA can be false +ve and false -Ve goes up and down like a yoyyo and isn't specific to any disease. The chlamidia needs a PCR and culture is Ig can be deceptive 

    • lily65668
      lily65668 dryguy

      Posted

      Thanks. I plan to ask my GP if he can write me up for the PCR urine test so I can have the results by the time I see the ophthalmologist again next month.
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