Hello, I am currently undergoing blood tests to see if I have Lupus. I have a Positive ANA-Speckled Pattern-1:320 Titre. SED rate is 19 out of 0-20 reference point at the lab, low white blood count, negative single strand DNA, and still awaiting double strand result. I have the symptoms of redness on cheeks when I m in the sun for a while, fatigue, weak, joint and muscle pain, low fevers, headaches, and hair thinning. Also weight loss. Could this be Lupus even though a negative on single strand DNA?
Dear Patient, a very strong index of activity is serum complement (C3 and C4). If these two proteins are low in the serum, it would be very likely that an individual has an immunocomplex mediated disease, in particular lupus. However, in order to have a diagnosis (clinical) of lupus you should be investigated with the recently reviewed criteria by ACR (2015). Thus, only a compressive analysis of all criteria may result in a diagnosis of lupus, although it is extremely unlikely to have SHE and a normal complement. Let me know, and take care