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What Causes Swollen Joints In Hands When Diagnosed With Lupus?
Question: I am being worked up currently for some swelling in my hands, I have previously submitted a question about my ANA and I think I understand it a little more, I do have a positive Anti XXXXXXX antibody and when I look that up, I am interpreting that as diagnostic for lupus?
My back story is I have a speckled pattern ANA with a titer of 1:80, my CRP is 9.90 and a positive anti-smith antibody, I have swollen joints in both hands worse in the morning, all of my other test are negative. I don't see the rhematologist until September and I am okay with that since my kidneys and lungs are not being affected, i have seen my PCP and got a second opinon from an Internal medicine doctor. My PCP said to see the Rheumatologist and the Internal Medicine doctor said that since the ANA titer was not above 1;160 that this isn't autoimmune but regular arthritis although there is not damage so far to the joints on the x-ray? I am skeptical about the second diagnosis because of the anti XXXXXXX antibody. Am I reading the information correctly is this significant or not significant.
My back story is I have a speckled pattern ANA with a titer of 1:80, my CRP is 9.90 and a positive anti-smith antibody, I have swollen joints in both hands worse in the morning, all of my other test are negative. I don't see the rhematologist until September and I am okay with that since my kidneys and lungs are not being affected, i have seen my PCP and got a second opinon from an Internal medicine doctor. My PCP said to see the Rheumatologist and the Internal Medicine doctor said that since the ANA titer was not above 1;160 that this isn't autoimmune but regular arthritis although there is not damage so far to the joints on the x-ray? I am skeptical about the second diagnosis because of the anti XXXXXXX antibody. Am I reading the information correctly is this significant or not significant.
Brief Answer:
It is significant .
Detailed Answer:
Dear Madam,
Thank you for posting your query on HCM.
Well looking into your problem I would like to tell you that , ANA in 1:80 titre could have been ignored if your anti XXXXXXX had been negative . XXXXXXX antigen antibody is quite specific for the disease . But since you dont have any major organ involvement the only thing we have to do is to observe you . Some people have this antibodies positive but dont develop disease as such so best way is to monitor . The autoimmune diseases are evolving disease , it is not necessary that they give all the symptoms at same time , it may manifest later and the autoantibodies may be positive early .Any other query please ask .
Take care.
Dr. Shruti
It is significant .
Detailed Answer:
Dear Madam,
Thank you for posting your query on HCM.
Well looking into your problem I would like to tell you that , ANA in 1:80 titre could have been ignored if your anti XXXXXXX had been negative . XXXXXXX antigen antibody is quite specific for the disease . But since you dont have any major organ involvement the only thing we have to do is to observe you . Some people have this antibodies positive but dont develop disease as such so best way is to monitor . The autoimmune diseases are evolving disease , it is not necessary that they give all the symptoms at same time , it may manifest later and the autoantibodies may be positive early .Any other query please ask .
Take care.
Dr. Shruti
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dr. XXXXXXX
I was also prescribed a week dosing of prednisone ( which I have not started), if I was your patient would you recommend that I use this type of medication for the swelling and pain in my joints even though at this time nothing is being effected internally?
I was also prescribed a week dosing of prednisone ( which I have not started), if I was your patient would you recommend that I use this type of medication for the swelling and pain in my joints even though at this time nothing is being effected internally?
Brief Answer:
You can take that.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Madam,
Sometimes a short course of steroids is prescribed , we also follow this so you can take that to relieve the symptoms . Since yoir autoimune profiling has been done already it wont affect the results either , so you can take that .
Dr. Shruti
You can take that.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Madam,
Sometimes a short course of steroids is prescribed , we also follow this so you can take that to relieve the symptoms . Since yoir autoimune profiling has been done already it wont affect the results either , so you can take that .
Dr. Shruti
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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