Positive ANA - does this mean lupus?

[Blupblup]

I have a couple of autoimmune conditions already - pernicious anaemia is one of them. I have just had an autoimmune panel of tests done and have a positive result for ANA. Looking at my test results, I had the same several years ago too. I was being investigated for lupus then (there's family history of it) but it wasn't mentioned again, the pernicious anaemia diagnosis sort of took over.
Is there anything else which causes a positive ANA result?

@Blupblup I had a positive ANA result back in July 2019, along with positive RO antibodies. I decided to see a consultant privately (as was told there was a huge wait list on nhs). I have no symptoms of autoimmune issues (he looked at inflammatory markers and few other things) he checked my eyes stomach and feet and said no signs of lupus or Sjögren's syndrome. Basically I may develop symptoms at some point but may not. So he sent me on my way and I haven't been back. The RO antibodies did mean extra monitoring of the baby when I was pregnant as there is a small chance of heart issues but she was fine

Positive ANA can mean several things. I had positive ANA and had symptoms of Lupus (rash after being exposed to sun, joint pain) but all my Lupus bloods came back fine. Doctor explained if I wasn’t having a flare up at the time of the blood panel, it wouldn’t show anything - In the end I was diagnosed by skin biopsy but a positive ANA on its own doesn’t mean much unless you have other symptoms.

I had 2 positive ANAs but was not diagnosed with lupus, they said ME instead. I had quite a lot of the symptoms of Lupus but they said that it wasn't that.
Still struggling years later but 🤷‍♀️

Like @Kayjay2018 above I have positive ANAs and anti-RO and was diagnosed with lupus but my symptoms have always been very borderline. My rheumatologist preferred to call it MCTD (Mixed connective tissue disease). I suspect it might be chilblain lupus which is a rare type that only affects skin and causes chilblain lesions which I had for many years. Those cleared up as soon as I started hydroxychloroquine and have never been back.

I've basically been asymptomatic for almost 10 years although the ANAs are always there on blood tests. The titre level is significantly lower than the time of diagnosis. I did read somewhere that about 1 in 20 people might have positive ANAs for no reason and that alone doesn't mean you have an illness.

@Lisad1231981 That's quite shocking that they'd diagnose you with ME when you have markers for autoimmune issues? You should really push for another doctor who can give you trial baseline treatment for lupus. I actually thought I had ME or fibro in the 6 years leading up to my diagnosis because I had periods of extreme fatigue and extended headaches. Normal blood tests never picked anything up, and it was only until they did the ANA panel that they realised there was something wrong. I started HCQ only (no steroids) which is a very mild and well-tolerated regime for lupus. My energy levels literally came back within months and many other health issues I never realised were connected disappeared.