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Hi... I'll try to keep this short...
Are there any of you who were tested for and found to have an elevated ANA (anti-nuclear antibodies; a blood test for lupus, sjogren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis and 'other autoimmune diseases') while you were in the process of being diagnosed with CD? 
I ask because my daughter who is in college has not been feeling well (no GI symptoms).  She's been having dizzy spells with some confusion, extreme fatigue, just plain doesn't feel well and doesn't look well (she had mono in HS).  Her test for CD a few years ago through the U of MD study and was normal.  Our family doc tested thyroid, glucose, and the basics and all was normal.  He wanted her to see a neurologist in case she's having mini-seizures.  She left for school the next day so I got her into a neuro doc there.  He didn't think it was a neuro problem and a brain MRI was normal, but an ANA was very slightly elevated - 1:80 -  not enough to indicate lupus (actually I'm not even sure why he even tested her for this as she has no symptoms).   I'm not trying to diagnose her myself and realize it could be one of many things, but my reason for wondering about the ANA is that 11+ years ago when I was sick and no one knew what was going on, I had this test and my result was 1:160... the lupus theory was dropped and I was eventually diag. w/ CD thru biopsy.
When the doc contacts us I want to have some information as to whether there is any connection, NOT that I think this would be a diagnostic tool for CD or that people should be tested for this for CD, just wondering if CD might be one of the 'other' autoimmune diseases that would show a positive result.  I know this is a question for the doctor but from what my daughter tells me about him, he'll either not know or not care.
So, anyone with experience with this or any doctors who can help me out?  
Thank you,
K

(I will now be looking for a good internist in the Pittsburgh, PA area - any suggestions?)
 












 

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