- Lupus protein tests / Lindy Lou might be interested too

[Guest guest]

wrote: >what type of test did the dr use to test your protein-urine or blood?thank you,melissaprov 3:5,6-------------------------------------

Hi and Lindy Lou,

I will help you the best I can but will refer to my labs I had done in August... [and some from earlier in the year].

I am not sure exactly what the test is called when they test the urine for protein, and also must say you can have protein in your urine for other health problems too. It could indicate lot's of different things. But for me, they already know I have Lupus so... But let's see what I've got here:

I know they should do some standard blood tests like CBC [blood counts], and Comp MET Panel [not sure what that is but I guess a full chemical blood test], and mine showed Creatinine which I "think" has to do with protein - anyone know? Mine was normal at that time for that. But my bun/creat was high at 24. I am just not sure what it means...

For my CBC; my MPV was high - don't know what that means. Please bare with me, I am trying to just show you things that can be positive in a Lupus blood work up. But as I say it may not mean by themselves, that you have Lupus.

Has he tested for double-stranded DNA? That is another thing that is often positive in me and has something to do with Lupus [but perhaps is not only for Lupus]. None of the tests I've had with these docs show they tested for that...

If your immune system is all wacko like mine can be because of Lupus, perhaps you'll have some things in low and some things high. Just to possibly give an idea of some things to check, for helping to figure out if it is Lupus or not. Mine that were low or high [i won't mention the normals]:

Neutrophils % - high. Lymph % - low. Lymph # - low. Basophils # - low. Monocytes # - high.

My ANA was considered to be positive at 1:40. But many have a lower or higher number than that, and have Lupus. But just the fact that you had a positive one [and is it always positive?] means *some*thing is going on. And my ANA is a "mixed homogeneous & speckled pattern" - don't think all Lupoids have that though... The lab report says that ANA positives are seen in a number of systemic rheumatic diseases [Lupus and other similar diseases]. My titer of 1:40 is not seen as significant really... And low one's are common with people who are advanced in age... SO - positive ANA's can mean a variety of things. But for a disease, they need to take it into consideration with other lab work and symptoms.

They should do an SS-A and SS-B antibody tests. These are seen in a certain number of people with Sjogren's, Lupus or Sclerosis [all auto-immune diseases]. Mine were negative [or normal] this time...

Here's a good one for a doc to do: RNP AB [ribo nucleic protein] - mine was high at 134. Normal is 0 - 49. It is seen in 95 - 100% of mixed connective tissue disease, 20-30% Lupus [that's me], and 15-25% Sclerosis.

Another good one: [ENA] AB - mine was high at 64. Normal is 0 - 49. But it isn't considered to be positive unless it is 50 or greater.

It is *very* specific for Lupus, but only occurs in 30 - 35% of cases. See - and it may not be positive now but could be later too... It's just so hard to dx. :-( This is often associated with renal disease.

There are other Scleroderma [sclerosis] tests they can do too which are specific for that disease.

Another good one specific for Lupus [but unfortunately seen in only 12% of cases...]: Ribosomal P Protien AB. Mine was high at 34. Normal is 0 - 19.

It is found in a very small number of SLE patients but in 90% of those with it.... have Lupus Psychosis. :*-( My number is positive but was a "weak positive". There is weak, a moderate and a severe. I guess severe would mean brain lesions and hallucinations, possible coma and death. Moderate could probably be a mix of weak and severe things. I can't tell you how *relieved* I was to hear this actually.... lol! Not happy to have been having brain problems but at least I knew why now... and had proof. I was saying for about 6 months before this test or longer, that there is something wrong with my brain; I knew it was the Lupus. It has gotten better now thank God. :-P I was having way worse of a time with the ol' noggin', other than just the fog we all experience. But really it was more like just a greater fog.... thicker fog? haha.

**MELISSA- Let's see... in August though, it looks like as far as protein in my urine came out ok. I know in the past it didn't. The best I can *tell* from the labs as far as the tests to test it via urine [they'd need a 24 hour sample for this test but I know they can do a simple one-time test too for protein]:

It's called a Creatinine Clearance test. Mine was normal [barely] at 0.94. Normal range is 0.5 - 1.2.

My Cholesterol is usually high too and is related to the Lupus in my case, but of course doesn't mean one has Lupus. ;-) There are many tests they can do, and a Rheumy should know how to do it, to help diagnose Lupus or other auto-immune diseases. I think one of the biggest problems comes when you are not having a very positive anything show up. When you just have a "little of this and a little of that" without any major organ problems, then they are naturally hesitant to make a dx. It's like a waiting game... But Lindy Lou - the rashes.... I don't know but that along with a positive ANA sure should be sounding some alarm bells in the docs mind, to me. Are you having joint pain?

I wish I had some of my old labs to tell you more... especially from when I was first being diagnosed. ;- /

There's the good old Sedrate test too, which just means it shows in your blood that you are having inflammation. Some docs try to use that as a pain gage but that is soo so wrong. I have had some at only 11, or 14 and was in a lot of pain. I had had some in the 20's and in hardly any pain and in the 40's and in great pain but... all they need to know really, is that it indicates inflammation. They just shouldn't look at the numbers as a pain gage because it just doesn't work that way.

Oh! See how the ANA bounces around: Back in January of this year, my ANA was very high at 1:1280!! Biiiig difference compared to what it was this summer at 1:40. lolol! Can't say I feel better than I did in January nope! Actually I have been feeling much worse! And during this high ANA time, my sedrate was only 11... Whereas during this summer when the ANA was 1:40 my sedrate was higher at 14. I guess it just means the Lupus isn't as active in specific areas... because when the ANA was low, it was attacking my kidneys and brain... [and it always attacks my lungs and blood].

I just wish they could come out with better tests for all of these auto immune diseases. I mean these tests help but.... that's all they do is help. You just need a very knowledgable doc for auto immune diseases.

There is also a C-reactive protien.... whatever that is. But mine was ok in January for that at 3.4.

That's all I've got for labs... Doc's usually don't like to give us labs for some reason... I don't know why. :-( Legally I guess they have to but they sure seem to frown on it.

xo li