January 02, 2012
I tested positive for lupus and negative for Rheumatoid Arthritis how likely is it that both results are false?
Category: Lupus
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?
One Response to “I tested positive for lupus and negative for Rheumatoid Arthritis how likely is it that both results are false?”
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January 2nd, 2012 at 5:18 am
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.