I went to the doctor's because I have a very bad case of Reynaud's (fingers and toes turn dark blue). My doctor did a bunch of blood work to ease my mind, and everything came back pretty normal, except I was positive for Anti Nuclear Antibodies (ANA's). I just read up about this and saw that this can indicate SLE. I do have the red "butterfly" type rash across my face, and lately have had shortness of breath (pleuritis) and saw those were also symptoms of lupus (along with reynauds). I guess my question is...how often does the presence of ANA's indicate SLE? I have a return appointment in a few days, but thought I'd consult the board too.

Thanks for your feedback - I really appreciate it!

I would make sure your doctor did further testing to find out what other types of antibodies you have. Good luck with your appointment.

I have an appointment tomorrow and will hopefully find out more, although I do know that the rheumatoid factor came back negative, so that's a good thing! I don't know if a rheumatoid factor indicates anything in terms of Lupus though...

I have sle, my Doctor tested me for Rheumatoid factor in the beginning along with several tests for Lupus. My Rheumatoid factor came back negative, the Lupus tests were all positive. The Lupus tests I can recall that she ran were ANA, Anti-DSDNA, IGG, IGM, IGA, SSA, Anti-RO, Anti-SM, C3, C4, she also tested for Strep, Lyme, and ran several other tests for kidney and liver function, she also checked my thyroid, and blood counts. I hope your Dr. does more testing in light of your symptoms. Lupus is not a "happy news" :p thing to find out you have, but the sooner you find out if you have it the sooner you can start treatment and hopefully minimize the damage it causes. :)

I've had a positive ana for years, but was only dx with lupus in November. My old rheumy said at first it was an unnamed autoimmune disease, and then changed it to fibromyalgia, and RA. Then I got Raynaud's as well, then one day as I was supposed to get Remicade, the nurse thought the acne on my arms was a rash, and sent me to see his new partner. She ran even more tests, and this time they came back conclusive for lupus. I also have Behcet's Sydrome as well, along with type 2 diabetes. Fun, huh? The Behcet's is in remission again, Thank You God. Anyway, RealisticChic's list of tests sounds like what I went through, on top of many other's, a good rheumy will know what to look for, so you need to find one. I wish you didn't hhave to have this, but I know for me I am at least glad to have some kind of dx, after eight years of not knowing what was wrong with me. It helps to know its not in your head, the pain, fatigue and everything. But, don't get me wrong, it is a scary thing. Sending you a giant hug, and a prayer for God's Will. Jen.

Thanks for your feedback Jen! It's funny that you mentioned a rash on your arms...I can't figure out why but lately I've been having acne-like break outs on my shoulders down onto my arms. It's not bad, but I've never had that before, and at 23, I really haven't had an acne break-out in years. Is that what yours was like?

However, my SED rate was normal (I think they said 5) so, does that rule out Lupus?

Yes, that does sound like my acne. Weird. My sed rate this last rheumy visit was only a 3, so with the right meds I don't think it means you don't have it. I've had rituxan therapy, and I'm on plaquenil, imuran, and prednisone. My sed rate is usually in the 30's though, and I have a positive ANA. I hope you get answers, and feel better soon.

I've had blue feet for 10 years mainly just when sitting with legs bent, but I dont get the classic tingle or red white and blue affect.

Im still testing negative on my ANA but have lots of other odd things going on.

Do you get pain in your feet?

Dear Pesh, There are *different kinds* of lupus rashes. I had circular nonscarring rashes on my arms & back & torso for years, which turned out to be one form of SCLE rash ( = subacute cutaneous LE). Plus, there's a second type of SCLE rash that's called "papulosuquamous", which is little raised papules. SCLE rashes tend not to scar or depigment. They can be widespread (including face) but seem to "like" arms & torso quite a lot!

Then there's the famous "buterfly" seen in SLE.

There's also "discoid" lesions, meaning the type that scar.

As to who gets what: rashes can "cross subsets". For example, someone with SLE can get a "butterfly" AND sometimes "discoid" of SCLE lesions. And someone with SCLE can get either one of the SCLE rashes, sometimes some "discoids", and even the "butterfly". And it's the TOTALITY of one's symptoms & tests that defines what "level" of lupus you have, not just the rash, if any. (Some people with lupus don't get rashes!)

Anyway, back to those arm rashes... If there's any chance that the rash is NOT acne, and you don't yet have an answer as to whether you have lupus, you could try to have it biopsied, by a dermatologist or a dermatopathologist ( = a specialized dermie who does his own labwork).

Also, do you see any correlation with sun exposure? My circular rashes were all in sun-exposed areas. It took me years to deduce I was photosensitive, as, at first, my rashes appeared months after sun exposure. Over time, the rashes appeared much more rapidly after sun, though. My blodwork finally turned positive for anti-Ro antibodies, which iare apt to produce extreme photosensitivity, I was told.

If anything here rings bells, just give a holler, OK? Best of luck, from Vee