I have been dealing with heart and lung doctors for years due to an excessively high heart rate on exertion and lower than normal diffusion of the lungs. A month ago my cardiologist did another echo and saw that the left side of my heart was becoming stiff/rigid and my EF is 50. Not good.. I should mention i am 33 and otherwise very healthy and fit. So the doc ran some standard blood tests for diseases that can cause restrictive heart disease. The ANA test came back at 1:640 discrete speckled pattern *which means i was chromosome positive*. I was immediately seen by a Rhematologist who looked at me and said you look healthy, I dont believe in blood tests... then he proceeded to take 7 vials of blood. He said i think your heart is just that.. an issue with your heart. I have to wait 3 weeks for the blood test results which they will mail to me. :( Ok so my question is.. does anyone else have a high ANA discrete speckled pattern where symptoms are internal only? Is there something else that can cause such a high ANA... Any information would be greatly appreciated... I have searched the internet constantly but i need some real answers. thanks

Aprilmae

I have found this board to be very slow, response wise. You might want to look for other support boards.

I'm no expert and am new to this stuff too.....but I would definately get yourself a second opinion, rheumatologist wise. I don't believe that ANA's have anything to do with chromosomes. And lupus can cause many internal organ problems, including heart. This rheumy sounds a bit weird and rheumatological diseases you can't "see" and sufferers do usually "look good" - this guy sounds nutz!

Get your test results from he and get another opinion.

Take care,
Jewelz

thanks for the heads up on the board... and i do agree he is a nit wit. The chromosome positive was written on the test results next to speckled pattern. My research told me that means it is anticentromere/ or discrete speckled pattern. that leaves sclerosis and crest syndrome. Needless to say sclerosis hardens organs HMMMM wake up doc.. my heart is hardening.. you would think that symptom alone would wake him up.

Hey Aprilmae

I know speckeled can mean lupus too. I don't know what chromosome positive would mean? Unless they are just saying the test IS positive, which it is at those numbers. But I'm not a doctor. You really should get to another rheumy. You know you better than anyone! You might want to google scleroderma and see if the symptoms fit too. Either way - you still need a good, decent rheumy girlfriend!

Hugs to you!
Jewelz

I cannot help you with your heart issues and I would definitely defer to my doctor on that. However, I can tell you that in my opinion, your ANA is not that high. Mine is often 1:1280. I believe an elevated ANA can be caused by a number of reasons, not just Lupus. Good luck with all your tests and I truly hope you receive helpful answers and solutions, as you are very young to be having such troublesome problems.