Positive ANA, Negative RNP
Hi, I have been having many debilitating symptoms for years. My ANA has been positive since I was 15, my Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies came back positive recently as well (then negative two weeks later?). I have swollen fingers, joint pain, low grade fevers, shortness of breath (and moments where my oxygen gets quite low, it's a bit scary), face and body rashes, sun sensitivity, fatigue and pain flares, hair loss, vision problems, raynauds syndrome, gastrointestinal problems (like reflux and multiple hernias that have had to get repair, hypermobility/subluxations, the list goes on. My rheumatologist has essentially said I fit a lot of conditions, but that it could be MCTD. This was the first I've heard of it. I've been on IVIG for a few years (which has made a lot of my autoimmune bloodwork change over the years, even during flares). He ran bloodwork and my RNP is negative. My ANA from a few weeks ago is positive. Would IVIG possibly be interfering with my results? Wouldn't it have to be positive to get a diagnosis? I would really like to have a diagnosis/treatment that truly helps. I'm very tired of not being believed.
Edit: my initial logic and question was that if the IVIG was helping treat what is going on (which it has helped some) especially given the fact it is donated antibodies, could it change bloodwork? I still have very abnormal bloodwork, but some of the levels have varied quite a bit since starting IVIG, and my RNP levels were tested for the first time 2 years after starting IVIG. I don’t know whether it could have interfered with a result because I don’t know what the initial result would be. Some of my results disappear and reappear during flares, especially now that I’ve had the infusions.