What does it mean if your ANA is borderline?

What does it mean if your ANA is borderline?

About 10 percent of young women test borderline positive in the ANA test, but it doesn’t mean they have lupus. “That just means you make auto-antibodies against your cells rather than just against infections,” Gilkeson said. “A lot of people make auto-antibodies, but never develop the disease.

What does a mildly positive ANA mean?

In most cases, a positive ANA test indicates that your immune system has launched a misdirected attack on your own tissue — in other words, an autoimmune reaction. But some people have positive ANA tests even when they’re healthy.

What is borderline lupus?

Borderline lupus, which can also be known as unspecified connective tissue disease, or probable lupus, or latent lupus, would define a patient who may have a positive ANA without a DNA or Smith antibody (blood tests used to diagnose lupus), who has arthralgias rather than arthritis, a brain fog or memory loss, and no …

Is borderline lupus real?

Studies suggest that a small percentage of people in this “borderline” group go on to develop additional symptoms or blood work findings and are eventually diagnosed with lupus or a related condition. This progression usually occurs within the first five years. However, most people never develop additional criteria.

What are the symptoms of borderline lupus?

Can a positive ANA turn negative?

The new criteria require that the test for antinuclear antibody (ANA) must be positive, at least once, but not necessarily at the time of the diagnosis decision because an ANA can become negative with treatment or remission.

What does borderline mean in blood tests?

Borderline. Take no action – This means that the doctor has looked at the result and deemed it to be just outside of the normal range and the result is not concerning.

What should I do if my ANA is positive?

If your ANA test results are positive, your health care provider will likely order more tests, especially if you have symptoms of disease. If you have questions about your results, talk to your health care provider.

What does it mean if your Ana is positive?

If the ANA is positive, then the person has a high risk of developing an autoimmune disease like lupus, scleroderma or Sjogren’s syndrome. Ultimately it all boils down to this simple fact: doctors treat people not numbers. As a physician I care about symptoms and signs way more than lab tests.

Is Ana of 1/1280 a borderline number?

An ANA of 1:1280 is by no means borderline though! The other specific antibodies may be coming within the “normal” range but that does not necessarily indicate that nothing is going on. There are like the other poster commented a whole lot of other specific tests/antibodies they could test for.

What is the ANA test for autoimmune disease?

If your doctor suspects you have an autoimmune disease, he or she is likely to order a number of tests. The result of your ANA test is one piece of information your doctor can use to help determine the cause of your signs and symptoms. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA).

What should I do before an ANA test?

An ANA test requires a sample of your blood. If your sample is being used only for an ANA test, you can eat and drink normally before the test. If your blood sample will be used for additional tests, you might need to fast for a time before the test. Your doctor will give you instructions.