Rheumatologist | Rheumatology Questions Rheumatologist

Autoimmune testing?

Symptoms: Fatigue, chronic pain in most joints, edema, butterfly rash on the face. My primary care doctor wants to refer me to a rheumatologist. I'm wondering if my latest blood tests mean it isn’t auto-immune, or if further testing is needed.

Blood tests ordered and results:
DNA Double stranded-negative
ANA w/reflex testing-negative
RF-Rheumatoid Factor-high 21 IU/ML

Female | 58 years old
Complaint duration: 3-4 years
Medications: Lyrica, Cymbalta, Symbicort, Nucala, Ozempic, Gammaguard, Crestor, Cyanocobalamin injections
Conditions: Post herpetic neuralgia, CVID, secondary Hyperparathyroidism, type 2 diabetic, osteoarthritis, eosinophilic asthma, hyperlipidemia, morbid obesity, vitamin B deficiency, spinal stenosis and DDD, bulging disks.

3 Answers

Based on the information provided, it is essential to consult with a rheumatologist to further evaluate your symptoms and determine the underlying cause. While some blood test results may be negative or inconclusive, it does not necessarily rule out an autoimmune condition or other rheumatological disorders. The presence of certain symptoms, such as chronic joint pain, fatigue, and a butterfly rash, warrant a specialist's attention to explore potential autoimmune or connective tissue diseases.

Here are a few points to consider regarding your blood test results:

DNA Double-Stranded (dsDNA) Test: A negative result for dsDNA antibodies helps to rule out certain autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, it does not exclude the possibility of other autoimmune conditions.

Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) Test: A negative ANA result suggests a lower likelihood of certain autoimmune disorders, but it does not completely rule out all autoimmune diseases. It is important to note that not all autoimmune conditions are characterized by positive ANA results.

Rheumatoid Factor (RF): A high RF level can be associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but can also be found in various other conditions or even in healthy individuals. A rheumatologist will consider other clinical factors, physical examination, additional blood tests, and imaging studies to confirm a diagnosis.

Since you have been experiencing symptoms for a prolonged duration and have multiple coexisting medical conditions, a thorough evaluation by a rheumatologist is crucial. They will conduct a comprehensive assessment, including a detailed medical history, physical examination, and potentially further blood tests or imaging studies. This will help to determine the most likely diagnosis and guide appropriate treatment.
From what I see, ANA test is negative as is DNA; low titre RF unlikely to be a concern
Most important point is that most critical thing I do as Rheumatologist is listen to patient, get detailed history and do a very good physical examination.
Doubt inflammatory or autoimmune but check with your doctors
I agree with your seeing a rheumatologist for this constellation of symptoms.