letter requesting repeat lupus anticoagulant test

[kat2504]

A few weeks ago I had the whole range of recurrent miscarriage blood tests. Nobody mentioned anything to me about more tests a month later. Today I received a letter asking me to go for a repeat lupus test in a couple of weeks time. Does this mean my first test was positive? Should I be worried about this? Does anyone else have similar experience? I am paranoid I have something wrong with me, i was really hoping they would find no cause for the mcs so I could try again assuming it had all been just very bad luck.

[galwaygal]

some tests including lupus one should be repeated 6 weeks after first one. Most doctors are very lax about this and if you get a negative test first time don't bother testing again as they should. Just sounds like you have a very good and thorough doc!!! Most times there is no cause found, in fact finding something that can be fixed is some ways is a more positive thing!

Hope you get your results soon.

[kat2504]

Thanks for that! It will be almost six weeks by the time I have the test done so that sounds about right. Nice to hear they are doing things thoroughly in any case.

[Bellethebelltent]

I've just had a lecture on this, the lupus anticoagulant test may not be actually testing for lupus as there are other autoimmune conditions with lupus in the name. Antiphospholipid is one such disorder, that is linked with recurrent miscarriage.

It is usual to repeat tests after six weeks though, often a positive result in both is needed to diagnose a total positive. Anticoagulant therapy, I believe, reduces chances of m/c. I'm sure the tests are just routine at this stage though!

[galwaygal]

Sorry yes Belle is right, I was just being lazy not writing out the whole name, it is not the test for actually lupus, but the DRVVT to exclude Lupus Anticoagulant also there is the test for Anticardiolipin Antibodies both of which are repeated twice at least 6 weeks apart. (or not in the case of my lazy consultant! )

[sotough]

hi here
it's well worth having these tests again and maybe even again. I actually had four sets of lupus anticoagulant tests. (I'd had four first trimester miscarriages in a row at that point.)
The first two tests came back negative and it seemed totally pointless having another one but I did it anyway. Weirdly, the third test came back 'strongly positive.' A fourth test proved negative. However, i felt the 'strongly positive' result must indicate something, even if science didn't quite know what it was. Although the doctors weren't sure whether it was significant, they agreed to prescribe blood thinning injections with my next pregnancy just in case it made a difference (as they are not harmful to a pregnancy anyway.)
It may or may not have made the difference - all i know is that I now have a lovely seven month old daughter. hang in there.

[kat2504]

Thanks! I have managed to conceive again in the meantime! I hope that the second test won't be too late to do anything if that one also comes back positive. (I'll be 6 and a half weeks when I next see the consultant)
In the meantime I'm taking low dose aspirin as it can't do any harm and may do some good.

[jellybeans]

Hi I had two positive tests for this after I lost my baby girl at 20 weeks. They were 8 weeks apart. But they weren't sure this caused my loss as i had no blood clots/growth problems. In my next pregnancy I took aspirin and injected heparin. I also needed an emergency stitch in the cervix halfway through. Luckily my DS is fine (on treatment it is almost normal pregnancy success rates). I have been to several doctors and few know about the LA, many say it is just a pregnancy problem, a haemotologist recently told me if I had APS I wouldn't have been able to get pregnant (?!) and he didn't think I had it. I have had lupus symptons for a few years and my tests for that and LA now are always negative. Basically few people seem to know about this. I am often worried about blood clots etc. and wish i knew about this. I am fed up of them saying yes it is Hughes Syndrome and then No it isn't!! Hope you find some answers.

[sotough]

kat2504 you should tell them you're pregnant before you go in for your repeat tests- they may cancel as the pregnancy could distort the results. I hope this pregnancy sticks for you.....

[mumatron]

Yes, tell them you are pg before going fot the repeat test. The results may not be accurate.

I hope things work out for you this time

[kat2504]

Thanks. The hospital know I am pregnant as I have booked a consultant appointment. However they might not be good at communicating that to the blood people so I will definitely make a point of telling them.