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What Does Strong Positiver Anti-histone Mean?
Question: Hi, i have a question about rheumatology. My husband just got diagnosed with scleritis and underwent an autoimmune work-up for this even though he has no family history of autoimmune disease and the only symptom he has is the diffuse anterior scleritis being treated with nsaids. All his labs came back as negative including rheumatoid factor, anti ds dna, anti XXXXXXX anti ro, la, and basically everything else except for anti-histone which was a strong positive. What does this mean? He has no other symptoms. He doesn't take any prescription drugs other than benadryl for sleep, but he does take many supplements. What does this result mean? Could he have lupus?
Brief Answer:
Follows.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Madam,
Thank you for postin your query on HCM.
Well looking into your query I will like to tell you that Anti Histone antibody are specific for Drug induced Lupus and generally come positive when any medicine that can give rise to lupus like symptoms is taken . Well there is a long list that can give rise to it but since he is not taking any such drug I will advise you to stop the supplement because there is a possibilty that some of its content may be giving rise to it .
You should get a urine R/M done to look if there is any protein plus ANA - IFA , COMPLEMENT LEVELS C3 and C4 are advisable to exclude lupus .
Take care.
Dr. Shruti
Follows.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Madam,
Thank you for postin your query on HCM.
Well looking into your query I will like to tell you that Anti Histone antibody are specific for Drug induced Lupus and generally come positive when any medicine that can give rise to lupus like symptoms is taken . Well there is a long list that can give rise to it but since he is not taking any such drug I will advise you to stop the supplement because there is a possibilty that some of its content may be giving rise to it .
You should get a urine R/M done to look if there is any protein plus ANA - IFA , COMPLEMENT LEVELS C3 and C4 are advisable to exclude lupus .
Take care.
Dr. Shruti
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
What are the chances that this could be due to lupus with negative anti ds dna and anti XXXXXXX and all the rest of them without any other symptoms except for this mild scleritis? Do you think its more likely that this could be drug induced lupus from one of his medications? Do you think this antihistone ab caused the scleritis? According to his lab results, his anti histone labs came back as strongly positive.
Brief Answer:
Follows.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Madam,
Thanks for reverting back.
Well in drug induced lupus anti ds DNA and Anti Sm are generally negative . Plus yes I think that this could be a possibilty that some of his supplement could have done so . We can stop them and then repeat the test after 3 months to see what is the change. anti this drug induced lupus can present with uveitis and sometimes scleritis also . But nothing can be said with certainity as all autoimmune diseases are very difficult to diagnose and careful observation is always necessary.
Dr. Shruti
Follows.
Detailed Answer:
Dear Madam,
Thanks for reverting back.
Well in drug induced lupus anti ds DNA and Anti Sm are generally negative . Plus yes I think that this could be a possibilty that some of his supplement could have done so . We can stop them and then repeat the test after 3 months to see what is the change. anti this drug induced lupus can present with uveitis and sometimes scleritis also . But nothing can be said with certainity as all autoimmune diseases are very difficult to diagnose and careful observation is always necessary.
Dr. Shruti
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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