I tested positive for lupus and negative for Rheumatoid Arthritis how likely is it that both results are false?

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My Dr informed me 30% of those with RA test a false negative. A more specific test also came back negative. Dr has not ordered any more tests in re Lupus. How likely is it I tested a false positive for Lupus and a false negative for RA?
There is no definitive test or biomarker for lupus. The Department of Defense has allocated 6 million dollars to try to identify one. They would not be doing that if there was a conclusive test for lupus already available. To what test are you referring? ANA? AntiDssDna? Anti-Sm? Anti-Ro? Anti-La? CBC? CMP? If you had a positive ANA, please know that 10 million Americans have a positive ANA, 1.5 million have lupus, and 5% of those have a negative ANA.

You probably have an autoimmune disease. There are about 100 different autoimmune diseases and you usually get more than one. Some people have lupus AND RA. They symptoms of RA and lupus are very similar. This is one of the reasons that lupus is called "the great imitator."

In order to get the best treatment possible, your job is to provide thorough and accurate information for the doctor. It is the doctor's job to connect the dots. Most doctors get irritable if patients second guess them. It is fine to get a second opinion from another doctor. It is good to do your research. But do let the doctor answer these questions. If your doctor does not answer your questions, ask for a separate 15 minute appointment to discuss your concerns.  (+ info)

Anyone know of a good book about lupus for families dealing with the disease?

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I am looking for a good support book for families dealing with someone that has lupus. Any suggestions?
The definitive book is "The Lupus Book", by Daniel Wallace, MD. I believe it is in it's third edition now. This book is pretty much the holy grail when it comes to knowing about Lupus. Dr. Wallace practices in Los Angeles, CA and sees almost exclusively Lupus patients. He has a terrible bedside manner but is an exceptional clinician. His book will give you all the answers you need. The other books that Linda mentioned above are helpful if you're looking for ways to deal with the disease not to actually understand what is going on.  (+ info)

What blood tests can be used to diagnose Lupus?

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I am almost positive that I have lupus, as I have almost every one of the symptoms. My doctor also thinks that i may have lupus, but every time i get a blood test, everything is negative. What tests can be used to diagnose lupus? Because i want to find out for sure if this is what I have
I was already diagnosed with fibromylagia but my symptoms go beyond just that. I have also been tested numerous times for Lyme disease and other rheumatic diseases, all coming out negative.
Raised ESR. Reduced white cells, reduced lymphocytes, and/or reduced platelets. Serum antinuclear antibodies (ANA) is positive in almost all cases. Double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) is specific to lupus but is only present in 50% cases. Anti-Ro and anti-La can also be detected. 25% patients have rheumatoid factor. Reduced serum complement levels during active disease.  (+ info)

What are the most common clinical presentations of Lupus?

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I'm specifically looking for the exact frequencies/percentages that Lupus presents in patients (homework assignment, but I've looked everywhere!!). Not looking for any pathophysiology.
The signs and symptoms of lupus fluctuate. Musculoskeletal involvement is very common and is frequently the presenting complaint. The second most common is skin manifestations, including the classic butterfly rash .
Musculoskeletal:
--Arthritis and arthralgia – 53-95%
Constitutional:
---Fatigue – 81%
---Fever – 31-71%
---Weight loss – 55-85%
Mucocutaneous
---Butterfly rash 10-61%
---Photosensitivity 11-45%
CNS
---Psychosis 5-37%
---Seizures 6-26%
Pulmonary
---Pleuritis – 31-67%
---Pleural effusion – 12-40%
Cardiovascular
---Pericarditis – 2-45%
---Myocarditis – 3-40%
---Heart murmur – 1-44%
---HTN – 23-46%
Renal 13-65%  (+ info)

What are the odds of a parents passing Lupus onto their children?

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My Fiance has lups and we wanted to find out the odds of our children getting Lupus if we start a family
Lupus has not been proved to be a hereditary disease. It is believed that Lupus has both genetic and environmental factors associated with it. Statistics show that people who have Lupus only have a very (and I mean tiny) small increase in Lupus within the family. Most researchers attribute this to the fact that people with Lupus tend to recognize the illness in others and therefore take their loved ones to get checked out...increasing the chances of a diagnosis.

In reality you don't have any greater chance of passing this on to your children then the normal population.

One side note...pregnancy with Lupus is a very challenging proposition. All Lupus pregnancies are considered 'high risk'. You have about 50-75% higher chance of an early delivery. Pregnancy can cause Lupus flares and it can be difficult to treat while pregnant due to the fact that many medications are contra indicated during pregnancy.

Lastly you'll want your fiance to make sure she doesn't have antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). A secondary disease that affects about 50% of people with Systemic Lupus. This disease is a clotting disease which poses a huge risk to both mother and child.

People with APS are advised against pregnancy and are steered towards adoption or surrogacy.  (+ info)

why can some women control lupus and others cant?

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my mom suffered from lupus for 15 years and recently passed away last january. doctors say that lupus can be controlled through chemotherapy, she did every kind of treatment available for the disease and still could not fight it. but in other women with lupus can fight lupus with treatment why do you think some can fight it and others cant?
I think your mom did fight it - for 15 years . this is a very debilitating illness and it can be soul destroying with its multiple symptoms and the effect they can have on the mind as well as the body. I hope you can be comforted by the fact that she stayed with you so long and endured all those horrible treatments to keep her family close, it takes a lot of courage to go through chemo and I have the greatest respect for those that do it so they can have maximum time with their loved ones.
I am sorry that you lost your mom, she is now with the angels and in no more pain. Bless you all  (+ info)

What is now the lifespan of someone diagnosed with Lupus?

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When I was diagnosed with Lupus in the early 1990's, I was told that my chances of living beyond ten years, was not good.
I think that alot of doctors just don't know alot about Lupus. It's hard to diagnose, and essentially is what you are told you have when all other diseases are ruled out in some cases.

The biggest danger of Lupus is organ failure, especially kidney failure. With advances in diyalsis and drug therapy for many of the symptoms and conditions of Lupus, most people that are diagnosed with Lupus live full long lives.

If you are feeling uneasy about your condition or are having health issues that need to be addressed, see a rheumatologist, a nephrologist and an endrocrinologist for treatments that will help alleviate your symptoms and help you in leader a fuller more active life.  (+ info)

What steps can I take to help relieve a Lupus patient?

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My girlfriend has Lupus. And when ever we go out together, sometimes her kidneys hurt really bad. And I panic because I don't know how to assist her because I am not a doctor. But What can I do, in the meantime to help relieve her pain? I can't stand watching her to be in such pain. I feel helpless at times like this.
My sister had lupus symptoms and she changed her diet to a vegan one. Within a year she got completely better.

Tai Chi also does wonders, as my sister did this and it helped with overall relaxation and blood flow throughout the body.  (+ info)

what causes lower abdominal pain with lupus?

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I just found out I have Lupus on monday, I learned that I have had it for 12 years. I have been having lower abdominal pain for the past year, no one could find the cause. This pain is just like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, could it just be IBS or associated with the Lupus?
  (+ info)

How is it that doxycycline (or any tetracycline) can both cause and treat Lupus?

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Some websites say that doxycycline can lead to drug-induced lupus, while others say that the drug can be used in TREATING lupus. Can someone clarify this? Thanks.
It can cause SLE and it should not be given to patients with SLE where it could exacerbate or worsen the said condition. Therefore, it cannot be used to treat lupus.

Antibiotics, such as tetracycline, are often used for a given time frame to be able to work its best. Unfortunately, some people think that it would be better to take it for an extended period of time to make sure that it does its work completely. This is a misconception since the body has a way of getting immune to antibiotics. When this happens, it can produce adverse results instead of helping the body out such as growth of other organisms, and inducing other conditions to arise.  (+ info)

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