Negative Ana - could it still be lupus?

[nailsathome]

Hi everyone.

I have a negative ANA test but all other blood markers and symptoms are pointing towards inflammation and autoimmune disease. Is it possible it is lupus despite the negative Ana?

Hi OP

Even with a confirmed Lupus diagnosis ANA can fluctuate. I believe you usually have to have had at least one positive ANA in the presence of symptoms / other abnormal results to be diagnosed.

However, it can be a long road to diagnosis. Even with several of the key diagnostic symptoms and a positive ANA (followed a year later by a negative one) I'm still unable to convince my GP to take me seriously...

This page is helpful, good luck :)
www.lupusuk.org.uk/diagnosis/

I was diagnosed with Lupus in 2017. My ANA was slightly raised, but I get awful rashes on my hands/arms from the sun which I had a skin biopsy done on and that confirmed Lupus. I had more bloods done and my ANA wasn’t raised that time so it doesn’t always have to be raised to have Lupus.

Lupus is also tricky - I believe you need to be having a flare up for blood tests to detect it.

Thank you both. I just want to know what's wrong with me

I'm in the same position. I have a butterfly rash in the sun, joint pain, hairloss, protein in the urine, highblood pressure and headaches with terrible exhaustion. I also have hashimotos but my t4 and t3 are optimal.. The gp asked for a referral but because my ana was negative they have refused.

It took 7 bloody years to get the hashimotos sorted. I just cannot go through it all again.

It took me 5 years to be diagnosed with 4 positive ANA tests but they were never in a row so were dismissed, I finally found a rheumatologist and neurologist that looked at all the tests and concerned and finally agreed I wasn't crazy. Hang in there. I'm in the states so changing doctors I believe is a little easier, but keep after them to listen and hopefully eventually they will. Good luck my friend.

I have neurology on Monday so hopefully I'll get some answers