Refresher Course: Negative ANA

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A negative ANA argues against the diagnosis of Lupus, but does NOT rule out Lupus. It just means that the ANA should be repeated at 4 week intervals if the symptoms remain or get worse. Some drugs will also cause Lupus like symptoms, and the patient will have a negative ANA. This is known as Drug Induced Lupus (DIL). The heart drug lisinopril, used to regulate blood pressure, is one of the drugs known to induce DIL. Using the ANA test as the ONLY guideline for lupus is not only foolish, but unethical. All tests in the lupus panel of blood tests need to be evaluated.    Complement tests Rheumatoid factor IgG antibodies SED rate Anti-DNA (Single-Stranded) Antibodies Quantitative studies these are just a few of the tests that need to be evaluated to completely rule out Lupus. It is a DOCUMENTED fact that people indeed do have lupus, but still show a negative ANA. When the ANA test is run, the ANA Pattern (the shape of the cell pattern) is important in determining if a person has lupus, Sjögren's syndrome, Scleroderma, or CREST Syndrome. So .. when your doctor gives you the result of your ANA .. ask him .. what type of pattern did it show? If he cannot give you an answer, then demand one. Explanation of ANA:  http://www.itzarion.com/lupusana.html Rion  http://www.itzarion.com http://www.itzarion.com/lupusgroup.html