Tests That Diagnose Autoimmune Diseases
No single test can diagnose most autoimmune diseases. A doctor will use tests, review your symptoms, and conduct a physical examination to reach a diagnosis.
Doctors often use the antinuclear antibody test when symptoms suggest an autoimmune disease. A positive test means you may have one of these diseases, but it wont confirm exactly which one you have or if you have one for sure.
Other tests look for specific autoantibodies produced in certain autoimmune diseases. Your doctor might also do nonspecific tests to check for the inflammation these diseases produce in the body.
BOTTOM LINE: A positive ANA blood test may indicate an autoimmune disease. Your doctor can use your symptoms and other tests to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatments are also available to relieve symptoms like pain, swelling, fatigue, and skin rashes.
Eating a well-balanced diet and getting regular exercise may also help you feel better.
BOTTOM LINE: The main treatment for autoimmune diseases is with medications that bring down inflammation and calm the overactive immune response. Treatments can also help relieve symptoms.
More than 80 autoimmune diseases exist. Often their symptoms overlap, making them hard to diagnose.
Autoimmune diseases are more common in women and often run in families.
Blood tests that look for autoantibodies can help doctors diagnose these conditions. Treatments include medications to calm the overactive immune response and bring down inflammation in the body.
How Is Fatigue From Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Different From Fatigue Experienced By Those With Other Autoimmune Conditions Such As Lupus Or Hashimotos
Chronic fatigue syndrome can only be diagnosed in the absence of any clear or probable medical or psychological condition, and the patient must meet certain conditions and criteria in order to carry the diagnosis. Usually chronic fatigue is quite generalized, while individual diseases may present with more specific complaints in terms of location, timing, sensations, etc. However, this is far from absolute, and chronic fatigue syndrome thus requires strict guidelines for diagnosis.
It may indeed feel the same or similar to fatigue caused by other sources, but can only be said to be chronic fatigue once all other likely conditions have been ruled out, and all required criteria met for the diagnosis. In addition, chronic fatigue will not abate after getting decent sleep, which may or may not distinguish it from other forms.
In recent years, researchers have determined that there is a biological basis for chronic fatigue syndrome, and have identified five different subtypes of the syndrome. The hope is that this will lead to blood tests able to isolate one type from the others, leading eventually to more successful and tailored treatments.
Fatigue Sleep And Autoimmune And Related Disorders
- 1Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, United States
- 2Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- 3Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- 4Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Brigham and Womens Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- 5Department of Pathology, Brigham and Womens Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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Myth: Diagnosis Takes A Long Time
The symptoms of autoimmune diseases can mimic those of other illnesses. And while this can make early diagnosis challenging, it isn’t impossible to receive the right diagnosis early on. There’s a misconception that early diagnosis is uncommon, and that you have to spend years seeking a proper diagnosis.
Many patients first bring up their symptoms with their primary care physician. Your primary care provider is trained in general acute and chronic care. If you suspect that you have an autoimmune disease, or if you have symptoms of an autoimmune disease, it’s vital to see a rheumatology specialist.
Rheumatologists receive special training in detecting and treating autoimmune diseases, also known as rheumatic diseases. A rheumatologist will have the knowledge, resources, and tools to provide an accurate diagnosis, so you can begin treatment and start feeling better.
Types Of Autoimmune Disorders
Autoimmune disorders can affect nearly every organ and system of the body. Some autoimmune disorders include:
- Diabetes affects the pancreas. Symptoms include thirst, frequent urination, weight loss and an increased susceptibility to infection.
- Graves’ disease affects the thyroid gland. Symptoms include weight loss, elevated heart rate, anxiety and diarrhoea.
- Inflammatory bowel disease includes ulcerative colitis and possibly, Crohn’s disease. Symptoms include diarrhoea and abdominal pain.
- Multiple sclerosis affects the nervous system. Depending on which part of the nervous system is affected, symptoms can include numbness, paralysis and vision impairment.
- Psoriasis affects the skin. Features include the development of thick, reddened skin scales.
- Rheumatoid arthritis affects the joints. Symptoms include swollen and deformed joints. The eyes, lungs and heart may also be targeted.
- Scleroderma affects the skin and other structures, causing the formation of scar tissue. Features include thickening of the skin, skin ulcers and stiff joints.
- Systemic lupus erythematosus affects connective tissue and can strike any organ system of the body. Symptoms include joint inflammation, fever, weight loss and a characteristic facial rash.
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How Are The Inflammatory Myopathies Diagnosed
How are the inflammatory myopathies diagnosed?Diagnosis is based on medical history, results of a physical examination that includes tests of muscle strength, and blood samples that show elevated levels of various muscle enzymes and autoantibodies. Diagnostic tools include:
- electromyography to record the electrical activity generated by muscles during contraction and at rest
- ultrasound to look for muscle inflammation
- magnetic resonance imaging to reveal abnormal muscle anatomy.
A biopsy sample of muscle tissue should be examined for signs of chronic inflammation, muscle fiber death, vascular deformities, or other changes specific to the diagnosis of a particular type of inflammatory myopathy. A skin biopsy can show changes in the skin associated with dermatomyositis.
How Do Autoimmune Diseases Affect You If Youre Trying To Get Pregnant
Some autoimmune diseases can affect your ability to get pregnant and some have adverse effects on pregnancy. You may need fertility treatments to get pregnant. You might also want to wait until your disease is in the remission stage to try to conceive.
There is a higher risk for stillbirth or preterm birth if you have lupus. If you have myasthenia gravis, you may experience trouble breathing.
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Some Of The Areas That Are Being Studied As Possible Causes Of Me/cfs Are:
People with ME/CFS often have their illness begin in a way that reminds them of getting the flu. This has made researchers suspect an infection may trigger ME/CFS. In addition, about one in ten people who become infected with Epstein-Barr virus, Ross River virus, or Coxiella burnetti will develop a set of symptoms that meet the criteria for ME/CFS. People with these infections who had severe symptoms are more likely than those with mild symptoms to later develop ME/CFS symptoms. But not all people with ME/CFS have had these infections.
Other infections that have been studied in connection with ME/CFS are human herpesvirus 6, enterovirus, rubella, Candida albicans, bornaviruses, mycoplasma, and human immunodeficiency virus . However, these infections have not been found to cause ME/CFS.
It is possible that ME/CFS is caused by a change in the persons immune system and the way it responds to infection or stress. ME/CFS shares some features of autoimmune illnesses . For example, both ME/CFS and most autoimmune diseases are more common in women and both are characterized by increased inflammation. However, other signs of autoimmune disease, like tissue damage, are not found in patients with ME/CFS.
Scientists think that the immune system might be contributing to ME/CFS in other ways, including:
Profound Debiliating Fatigue Found To Be A Major Issue For Autoimmune Disease Patients In New National Survey
- Date:
- American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association
- Summary:
- Fatigue is a major component of autoimmune disease research team has found. Fatigue described as profound,debilitating, and preventing them from doing the simplest everyday tasks, is a major issue for autoimmune disease patients, impacting nearly every aspect of their lives.
Fatigue described as profound,debilitating, and preventing them from doing the simplest everyday tasks, is a major issue for autoimmune disease patients, impacting nearly every aspect of their lives. It affects their mental and emotional well-being and their ability to work. And while most AD patients have discussed their fatigue with their physicians, many have not been prescribed treatment for their fatigue.
Those are among the major findings of a new online survey of autoimmune disease patients conducted by the American Autoimmune Disease Related Diseases Association , the nations only not-for-profit autoimmune disease patient advocacy organization, to examine the connection between autoimmune disease and fatigue. AARDA released the findings of the survey of 7,838 AD patients at a national summit held to commemorate National Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
Major findings include:
Almost all AD patients surveyed report they suffer from fatigue.
Nine-in-10 say it is a major issue for them and six-in-10 say it is probably the most debilitating symptom of having an AD.
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Treat Underlying Conditions That May Cause Fatigue
âFatigue with lupus is sometimes caused by an underlying medical problem, such as anemia, fibromyalgia, depression, or a kidney or thyroid problem. And in some cases, it can be a side effect of medication,â says Meenakshi Jolly, MD, MS, director of the Rush Lupus Clinic and assistant professor of medicine and behavioral medicine at Rush University. âIn these cases, we can often treat the fatigue by treating the condition or changing the patientâs medication.â
Ask your doctor to check if your fatigue may be related to another condition or a medication. If it is, find out about treatment.
How Do Autoimmune Diseases Affect You If You’re Trying To Get Pregnant
Some autoimmune diseases can affect your ability to get pregnant and some have adverse effects on pregnancy. You may need fertility treatments to get pregnant. You might also want to wait until your disease is in the remission stage to try to conceive.
There is a higher risk for stillbirth or preterm birth if you have lupus. If you have myasthenia gravis, you may experience trouble breathing.
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Preventing And Coping With Fatigue
Living successfully means finding ways to cope with fatigue. Follow these tips to keep fatigue at bay:
Sleep: Get plenty of sleepat least seven to eight hours each night. Healthy sleep habits can help prevent fatigue and pain. For optimal sleep:
- Keep your bedroom quiet, dark, and relatively cool.
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, exercise, and large meals before bedtime.
- Avoid television, your phone and computers for at least an hour before bedtime.
- Create a soothing bedtime ritual, such as a warm bath or meditation before bed.
Rest: Get plenty of rest throughout the day. Build down time into your day a simple 15-20-minute break can reenergize you. Take naps if you need them.
Time Management: Plan ahead. Set priorities for the day and create a realistic timeline for accomplishing them.
Pace Yourself: Overdoing it is a surefire way to exacerbate pain and fatigue. Instead, pace yourself and try not to take on too much.
Fatigue Journal: Keep a record of your activities and the associated energy levels. This will help you to track the activities that zap your energy and either avoid them or plan accordingly.
How Is Ra Treated
RA can be effectively treated and managed with medication and self-management strategies. Treatment for RA usually includes the use of medications that slow disease and prevent joint deformity, called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs biological response modifiers are medications that are an effective second-line treatment. In addition to medications, people can manage their RA with self-management strategies proven to reduce pain and disability, allowing them to pursue the activities important to them. People with RA can relieve pain and improve joint function by learning to use five simple and effective arthritis management strategies.
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What Type Of Blood Tests Are Used To Diagnose Autoimmune Diseases
Several different blood tests may be used to diagnose an autoimmune disease. In addition to a regular complete blood count and metabolic panel, other tests that are likely to be included are anti-dsDNA, anti-RNP, anti-Sm, anti-Sjogrens SSA and SSB, anti-scleroderma, anti-Jo-1, anti-CCP, antibody against cardiolipin, and an antinuclear antibody test. A rheumatoid factor test, which looks for rheumatoid arthritis, is also usually included during the diagnostic phase. The antinuclear antibody test looks for antibodies that could cause an autoimmune response.
How Can I Manage My Life Now That I Have An Autoimmune Disease
Although most autoimmune diseases don’t go away, you can treat your symptoms and learn to manage your disease, so you can enjoy life! Women with autoimmune diseases lead full, active lives. Your life goals should not have to change. It is important, though, to see a doctor who specializes in these types of diseases, follow your treatment plan, and adopt a healthy lifestyle.
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Lupus Vs Rheumatoid Arthritis
A complex autoimmune disease, lupus can cause a wide range of symptoms that vary in severity, making it challenging to diagnose. Many people refer to lupus by its full medical name, systemic lupus erythematosus .
How is it similar to RA? One of the most common symptoms of lupus is pain and swelling in the hands, knees, and other joints. People often report fatigue, fever, and a general feeling of being unwell.
See Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
How is it different? A person with lupus may find it painful to take a deep breath. He or she may have sensitivity to light, hair loss, mouth sores, and/or a skin rash, particularly over the face. Digestive difficulties and neurological problems, such as headaches and tingling, are also possible.
Mixed Connective Tissue Disease
This disease actually includes characteristics of three other connective tissue disorders: scleroderma, polymyositis and systemic lupus erythematosus. It can have a wide variety of symptoms when it first develops, including fatigue, joint pain, muscle pain and others. The temporary loss of blood supply to the extremities known as Raynauds syndrome is also common. It tends to be diagnosed most often in young women.
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Coping With Fatigue Associated With Autoimmune Disease
The inflammatory response associated with autoimmune conditions and arthritis is systemicmeaning it affects the whole body. These conditions can cause a variety of symptoms, including pain, swelling, stiffness, loss of joint functionand fatigue. In fact, fatigue is one of the most commonand frustratingsymptoms.
Common Autoimmune Disease Symptoms
Despite the varying types of autoimmune disease, many of them share similar symptoms. Common symptoms of autoimmune disease include:
- Abdominal pain or digestive issues
- Recurring fever
Many women say its hard to get diagnosed, something that Orbai agrees with. Its not black or white, she says. Theres usually no single test to diagnose autoimmune disease. You have to have certain symptoms combined with specific blood markers and in some cases, even a tissue biopsy. Its not just one factor.
Diagnosis can also be difficult because these symptoms can come from other common conditions. Orbai says women should seek treatment when they notice new symptoms.
If youve been healthy and suddenly you feel fatigue or joint stiffness, dont downplay that, she says. Telling your doctor helps him or her to look closer at your symptoms and run tests to either identify or rule out autoimmune disease.
Autoimmune Disease: Why Is My Immune System Attacking Itself?
Autoimmune disease affects 23.5 million Americans, and nearly 80 percent of those are women. If youre one of the millions of women affected by this group of diseases, which includes lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and thyroid disease, you may be wondering why your immune system is attacking itself.
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If your joint pain is caused by a sports injury or a serious condition, visit a doctor as soon as possible. Sometimes, joint pain is referred by other parts of the body. For example, a slipped disc in the back can cause leg pain, a condition known as sciatica. So, its important to visit a doctor as soon as possible. You can take a medication that will relieve your symptoms. Autoimmune Dosease That Cause Stomach Pain Joint Pain And Dizziness
What Questions Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider About Autoimmune Diseases
Its helpful to have some questions ready to ask before you see your provider. Examples to consider include:
- Do I have an autoimmune disease?
- What tests should I go through?
- What type of autoimmune disease do I have?
- Do I need to see a specialist?
- What specialist should I see?
- Whats the best treatment for me?
- Should I let my family members know that I have an autoimmune disease?
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How Are Autoimmune Diseases Diagnosed
Diagnosing an autoimmune disease usually takes healthcare providers longer than it does to diagnose other diseases. This is because many autoimmune diseases have similar symptoms with each other and with other diseases. You can help your healthcare provider with the diagnosing process by bringing the following to your appointment:
- A detailed list of any symptoms and how long youve had them.
- A record of your familys health history. Note if anyone in your family has an autoimmune disease.
In addition to interviewing you about your symptoms, your healthcare provider may do some blood tests to check for autoimmune diseases, including:
- Antinuclear antibody test .
Specific symptoms combined with specific blood markers may prove that you have an autoimmune disease.
