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Why does Lyme and company cause positive ANA test?

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Posted 2/3/2016 9:43 AM (GMT -5)
I was diagnosed with Lyme and company in July '15, started treatment in September with llmd. I'm taking doxycycline and just started cefuroxine. I took plaquenil for about a month, stopped last week due to diarrhea and weight loss. In searching for diagnosis I was tested repeatedly for lupus (ANA) which were all negative. Last week I tested positive for lupus on the ANA. I have been told that Lyme or babs will cause this. I would like to know how/why this happens. Thanks.

LL
Posted 2/3/2016 9:52 AM (GMT -5)
I have been told by several Drs that many people have pos ANA.

Even common with people who are not sick at all.

The other more specific autoimmune markers are more notable.
Posted 2/3/2016 9:59 AM (GMT -5)
It doesn't necessarily. I have had the test a bunch of times and never had a positive test.

It may depend on how long ago your exposure was. I would guess that My exposure was at least 10 years before anyone thought to test for Lupus.

But the answer probably has something to do with why it looks like an autoimmune disorder.
Posted 2/3/2016 10:32 AM (GMT -5)
Hi LimeyLyme,

For many of us who have Lyme, it has a sort of autoimmune-like reaction. It attacks your body in the same way that an autoimmune disease does. The ANA test is not really sensitive enough to distinguish the difference.

ANA are anti-nuclear antibodies, which are antibodies that attack your own cells.
Posted 2/3/2016 11:40 AM (GMT -5)
Many people who have hashimoto antibodies also have positive ANA, and their thyroid is wacked but .........they dont have Lupos symptoms.

Lupous cannot be Dx'd with ANA alone.
Posted 2/3/2016 11:44 AM (GMT -5)
Thank you. That's a good explanation Sarah. The specific tests were: SM ANTIBODY 4.1 ref range 0 - 0.9 and SM/RNP AB IGG 1.0 ref range 0 - 0.9. Autoimmune diseases are all over in my family so it's frightening. How you treat then? Treat the infections and wait until the immune system comes back? Transfer Factor? I took Lyme Transfer Plus for a number of weeks and noticed no effects good or bad. I think I will try to restart the plaquenil since that is a treatment for both? I just desperately need to gain weight. I see so many different Drs and feel trapped in the health care industry silo h*'ll.
Posted 2/3/2016 11:50 AM (GMT -5)
Hi, I also had a positive ANA. However I tested negative for all the other autoimmune disorders my doc tested me for, lupus, sjogren’s, muscular connective tissue disease and RA. I'm getting tested for lymes soon. I think what the previous posters said is right. It's the inflammation that causes that positive ANA.
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