Blood test results

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 8:57 pm

As I posted a couple of weeks ago, I went to see my internist for follow-up since I don't have a GI (I fired her) and I'm supposed to have bloodwork every 6 months for autoimmune risks. It was 10 months since my last visit last July when I first started the GF/DF/SF diet. There was good news and non-news, but no bad news.

Results:
Sed rate and C-reactive protein -- normal -- they have been normal for the last 7 years, to everyone's surprise.
Liver and kidney function -- normal, as usual
CBC -- normal, no anemia
B-12 -- low normal, again, even though I'm on high-dose B-complex (but not daily). 489 when it should be in the 600s
Vitamin D -- 29 even though I've been taking a 2000 IU supplement (almost daily) and getting sun. I was 33 last July.

Now the autoantibodies:
Rheumatoid Factor -- 28, up from 21.
Anti-Actin Antibody -- 56, up a couple points from last year (I've mentioned before this antibody is a possible indicator of intestinal damage, and is hopefully explained by my MC. I wish others here would get tested for it. Dr. Fasano thought it would be added to the celiac work-ups a few years ago. Not sure what happened to it.)

But the GOOD NEWS?
My ANA dropped from 1:1280 to 1:320!!!!

I really don't know what this means, but I need something to be happy about and attribute to this crazy diet. When this autoimmune rollercoaster started after my son's birth, my level was 1:640. It's been 1:1280 for the past 2 years. So my level is moderate now instead of off the charts high.

Is there any chance the ANA is caused by/related to the MC? Are there members here with positive ANAs and no other autoimmune diseases?

I truly believe the GF diet is preventing autoimmune hepatitis or primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) from developing. I'm not sure it has a direct effect on rheumatoid arthritis risk, beyond perhaps alleviating symptoms somewhat in someone with active disease.

So my instructions are to follow up with a good GI - one who works with celiacs and other autoimmune issues. Otherwise I can do bloodwork once a year if I'm feeling well.

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 9:15 pm

Hi Zizzle,

I don't know about the ANA ratio, but your vitamin D supplement seems a little low. I take 5,000 IUs a day in the winter, and 3,000 IUs a day in the summer. My daughter had a low reading and her doctor has her on 50,000 IUs twice a week.

Good news on the positive results. Now you can just focus on the areas needing improvement.

Gloria

dgshelton · Post by **dgshelton** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 9:55 pm

Zizzle - I'm not sure about the ANA ratio either, but I also take 5,O00 iu of calcium every day.

Hugs,

Post by **tex** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 10:38 pm

Zizzle wrote:Is there any chance the ANA is caused by/related to the MC?

Probably. According to research, it's not relevant in diagnosing MC, but a positive ANA result suggests a link with other AI diseases.

CONCLUSIONS: The autoantibodies investigated are of no diagnostic relevance to microscopic colitis. Positive ANA and strong associations with other autoimmune diseases point to an autoimmune etiology. H(2)-receptor antagonists and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs might also be of pathogenetic significance.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16724988

The red emphasis is mine, of course. I've seen claims by some authorities that MC is not an autoimmune disease, (which I have always disputed). This research obviously disputes that claim, also.

Based on your ANA result, I'm guessing that you have CC. Am I right?

Tex

jmayk8 · Post by **jmayk8** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 7:05 am

I have a postive ANA with a high titer, and a speckled pattern (whatever that means). I saw a specialist bc they thought I might have lupus. They just said it was due to my autoimmune diseases..

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 11:26 am

tex wrote: Based on your ANA result, I'm guessing that you have CC. Am I right?

Tex

Nope. I have LC. My ANA is also speckled, which is not very specific for lupus. Speckled is more closely associated with Mixed Connective Tissue Disease, Scleroderma and Sjogren's Syndrome. But I don't have the other requisite antibodies to make those diagnoses, and luckily no symptoms of anything at all (besides painless D from MC). I may eventually be labeled with Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease. If ANA is an indicator of disease severity, I wonder what kind of battle is brewing inside me and not creating symptoms? Maybe the epic battle of immune cells versus gut bacteria?

If you were me, would you be visiting rheumatologists and asking for more tests to narrow down the possibilities, or should I be happy that I feel well and not worry about it?

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 12:08 pm

Z, maybe your diet is working and over time those risks will continue to go down? (I'm sure you realize I have a stake in this game, O my sister-of-the-DQ2.)

You seem persuaded that those risks are tied directly to the gene. (I'm not persuaded otherwise, just ignorant.) I think so many people have DQ2 (including the non-celiac other one), as well as other genes that dispose for gluten sensitivity, that I think many people Dx with other AI issues *also* have gluten problems, and maybe celiac on the way, but don't know it. So it looks like it's the gene, but it's being actively triggered by the diet.

I am wildly optimistic, but I think your improved test results deserve it - that, and the good news that you don't have the other antibodies or symptoms of any of those other AIs.

Tex, I have CC (or did in '97 - who knows what they'd say today) - but I know was tested for ANA when we were trying to figure out my miscarriages, and it must have been negative. This is some crazy beast, this MC, huh?

--S

Post by **tex** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 12:25 pm

Zizzle wrote:Nope. I have LC.

Now you see why I'm not a doctor.

Zizzle wrote:If you were me, would you be visiting rheumatologists and asking for more tests to narrow down the possibilities, or should I be happy that I feel well and not worry about it?

I'm convinced that Sara is quite correct about the diet attenuating the risks of developing additional autoimmune diseases. So long as you control your MC symptoms, your risk of developing additional AI diseases should be no more than someone in the general population. If I were in your shoes, I believe that I would simply continue to use the diet to keep the risk low, and not worry about diseases that will probably never develop. (That's the approach that I follow, anyway), and I've lost a few autoimmune diseases in the past decade, but I haven't added any new ones).

Tex