medications that cause false postive ana results....

Hi all. I read that taking certain kinds of medications can give you false positive ANA results. The article did not go into detail as to which medications......anyone know?

sorry I couldn't get the link to work!

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God Bless

From UptoDate Patient information: "The ANA test is said to be false positive when a person tests positive but does not have any other features of autoimmune disease . This situation occurs more often in women and elderly people. Certain medications, such as hydralazine, isoniazid, procainamide, and some anticonvulsant medications increase the chances of having a positive ANA test "

Also the biologic medications like Remicade, Humira, Enbrel can cause false positive results.

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Oh man, Okie.

Ides, are any of those antibiotics? Or, do you know if antibiotics would cause a false positive?

Oh yeah, I forgot, Ides can I get the site to where you got this info from?

I have never heard of an antibiotic causing a false positive. I do know ANA varies greatly from day to day and can be highly positive then suddenly negative and vice versa.

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Dx:fibromyalgia 2002, systematic lupus 2005, rheumatoid arthritis 2006, PTSD 2007, multiple allergies 2005, migraine, compression fractures T11 & T12, Sjögren's, pregnant due May 2008
Tx: plaquenil, Enbrel, Darvocet, Singulair, Flexeril, Baby Asprin,Prednisone

I just typed in google positive ana + medications and it gives you a whole list of them it dosn't appear that there is any antibiotics on the list I am looking at.

KaAl . . . "if" you had a positive ANA caused by medications, there are other blood tests results that will indicate it because of medication. It will also return to negative when the medication is stopped. . . . the symptoms will also go away when the medication is stopped. If you suspect a +ANA because of meds, just talk to your doc. He'll be able to show you, in your blood work, how he knows it is an actual + or a drug induced +.

Blessings!

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In His Grip

AlwaysRosie           "We can't control the waves, but we can learn how to surf!!"

Psalms 139

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Rosie, thanks for the suggestions.......I was on antibiotics (cefuroxime) for 1 and 1/2 months. I was off of the antibiotics for 2 wks when I had my ANA tested (came out positive) then when re-tested a month later ANA was negative. I asked my rheuamy if antibiotic can cause a false positive and she said no, but I read an article where it states that penicillan can affect your ANA results? Cefuroxime is in the class of penicillans.
I'm pretty confused at this point.

KaAl

ANA's are confusing anyway. They go up and down w/o rhyme or reason. Some have a very low ANA while in a flare and then a high ANA during a remission . . . go figure. It doesn't always equate.

There is a marker in the blood work that tells the doctor if it is drug induced. I just don't remember the name of it.

This blood work can drive you crazy. There is a good web site to check on some of it. Labtestsonline.org

Blessings!

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In His Grip

AlwaysRosie           "We can't control the waves, but we can learn how to surf!!"

Psalms 139

Co-Moderator - Lupus Forum

UCTD, Hashimotos, Inflammatory Bowel, Inflammatory Arthritis

Clickable Links:  Lupus Resources    Lupous.Org   Lupus Criteria (4 of 11)   Lupus Chapter Locator