5 ms·
Couldn't you tell this apart by the kind of damage caused to one's own cells and what kind of antibodies are present? e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antinuc
by bschne 3y ago
Couldn't you tell this apart by the kind of damage caused to one's own cells and what kind of antibodies are present? e.g. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antinuclear_antibody https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antinuclear_antibody
- francisofascii 3y agoDepends on the type and quality of the test. Serological tests can yield incorrect readings.
- haldujai 3y agoAh ANA, the wonderful test that everyone orders and then shamefully consults rheumatology because no one knows how to interpret it[0]. Almost a rite of passage in medical training now. I jest but I think these tests are still a bit of a mystery (as in why these autoantibodies are made and what their significance is) especially as some people with high titres have no symptoms and vice versa although there is an association. I think what parent is alluding to is that the trigger for production may be an infection, even if the damage is mediated by one’s own immune system. [0]for a chuckle this is a humorous but accurate depiction: https://twitter.com/DGlaucomflecken/status/1371901346413117442 https://twitter.com/DGlaucomflecken/status/13719013464131174...
- FollowingTheDao 3y agoAnd then try convincing your primary care doctor that an ANA test could be negative and you can still have lupus or any other autoimmune disease.
- bschne 3y agoI keep being fascinated by how medicine is simultaneously things like "that death sentence is a minor inconvenience now" and others and things like... this
- not_a_shill 3y ago>although there is an association A pretty big association I thought Also what is there exactly to interpret? Or what would a good interpretation look like? I've been to a rheumatologist before and they didn't exactly explain.