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i posted this on another thread, but then found this one: i too have a positive ANA - very high t_ter (1:640, sometimes 1:320) and have had it for over ten years with some joint pain. i've been to see many specialists, tested for everything, but so far, nothing. i was pregnant last year and miscarried very early, before 6 weeks. i had a terrible early pregnancy, with extreme fatigue and joint pain. my doctors - including two high-risk specialists - say no link has been shown between ANA alone and miscarriage or clotting. they aren't treating me with anything. I'm hoping for another pregnancy, but don't want to have another miscarriage. i've also read that ANA may be a precursor for autoimmune disease and that pregnancy may be a trigger. i am desperate to hear success stories, but i'd also like to know if anyone out there with an ANA alone prior to pregnancy developed an autoimmune disease either while pregnant or during the postpartum period.

in response to kathy's post re: preeclampsia and ana: some studies say no, others indicate a link. Yes: A prospective study on the occurrence of autoantibodies in low-risk pregnancies Leif S. Matthiesena, *, Göran Berga, Jan Ernerudhb and Thomas Skoghc a The Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Department of Health and Environment, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, S-581 85 Linköping, Sweden b The Division of Transfusion Medicine and Clinical Immunology, The Department of Health and Environment, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden c The Division of Rheumatology, The Department of Health and Environment, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden Accepted 31 August 1998. Available online 4 March 1999. Abstract Objective: This investigation was done to study the prevalence of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-cardiolipin antibodies (aCL), and rheumatoid factor (RF), in presumed healthy women during their pregnancies. Study design: During an 18 month period blood samples were taken in the first, second and third trimester from 1200 pregnant women, representing a low-risk population. Clinical data on the pregnancy outcome were obtained by birth statistics after their deliveries. The diagnoses of preeclampsia, intrauterine growth retardation, fetal death, or abruptio placentae were stated in 57 of these women. An age- and parity-matched control group of 207 women with normal pregnancy outcome was drawn from the same low-risk population (n=1200). A nonpregnant control group consisted of 157 women. The prevalence of ANA (immunofluorescence microscopy on HEp-2 cells), aCL-immunoglobulin G (enzyme-linked immunosorbent a__say), and RF (latex agglutination test) in preeclampsia, intrauterine growth retardation, fetal death, or abruptio placentae were compared to the normal pregnancies, and to the nonpregnant controls. Results: ANA occurred significantly more often (P<0.05) in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia when compared to normal pregnancies. aCL occurred sparsely in normal as well as complicated pregnancies. RF was infrequently seen among all women in this study. Conclusion: An a__sociation was noted between the occurrence of ANA and preeclampsia. However, this a__sociation was too insensitive to use as a clinical tool. Author Keywords: Anti-nuclear antibodies; Anti-cardiolipin antibodies; Rheumatoid factor; Human pregnancy; Preeclampsia *Corresponding author. No: Antinuclear antibody testing in obstetric patients Request Article I E Afman, Medical Student (Current Address: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Groningen, The Netherlands) H S Cronjé, MMed (O&G), FCOG (SA), MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein M G Schoon, MMed (O&G), PhD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein G Joubert, MSc, Department of Biostatistics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein P N Badenhorst, MMed (Haematol), PhD, Department of Haematology and Cell Biology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein Abstract Objectives. To a__sess possible a__sociations between the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) and pregnancy outcome in order to determine the significance of this test in obstetric practice. Methods. A case-control study was performed on 408 patients admitted to an obstetric high care unit and on whom ANA testing was consecutively performed. The study group consisted of 46 patients who tested positive for ANAs and a control group of 92 patients who tested negative for ANAs. In addition to demographic data, indications for admission and pregnancy outcome were compared between the two groups. Results. Of the 46 Patients with a positive ANA result, 28 had an antinuclear pattern, 13 an anticytoplasmic pattern and 5 an antinuclear and an anticytoplasmic pattern. No significant differences were observed between the two groups (ANA-positive and negative) with regard to demographic data, indication for admission, clinical and laboratory data, and pregnancy outcome. The patients were also tested for anticardiolipin antibodies, and significantly more patients were severe pre-eclampsia tested positive (24% versus 4.7%, p = 0.01). No difference in HIV status and presence of autoantibodies was found between the two groups. Conclusion. The presence of ANAs was not a__sociated with adverse pregnancy outcome. Therefore routine patient testing for ANAs in an obstetric high-care unit is not recommended. S Afr Med J 2003: 93:932-937

Hi Jenny,I'm sorry for your loss!!! A mc is hard enough to deal with,and on top of that we have to worry about all of that ANA junk.I went through something similar...(I wrote all about it above)After my mc,it took me a year to try again.My ANA was 1:320 after my mc.I got pregnant again in July of this year,and when they tested my ANA it went down to 1:80.My ob tested me for clotting antibodies and all of those turned out negative...Thank God!Even though I only have the positive ANA,my ob told me that I have to take one baby aspirin a day.I am now 14 weeks pregnant,and I feel pretty good.So far ,my ultrasound looked good,and I heard the baby's heartbeat for the first time.I also recently talked to Lenore(her story is at the top of the thread),she also has a positive ANA,and previous mc...she is now well into her 5th month of pregnancy.She also was advised to take baby aspirin.Did your doctor tell you anything about taking baby aspirin next time your pregnant????

hi cathy - thanks for your post. i'm sorry for your loss, too - and that so many of us have to worry about this problem. no - i've seen two obs, two high risk obs, and a reproductive endocrinologist. no one could explain why i was in so much pain so early in my pregnancy that miscarried. and no one thought i should take anything, though i asked about prednisone, heparin and aspirin. did your doctors tell you about any research to support doing so? mine all said ana alone probably wouldn't cause miscarriage. i am most worried that it would cause problems for the baby or for me - like a baby that didn't grow enough (intrauterine growth restriction, i think it's called - a problem for clotting disorders) or triggering a serious autoimmune problem for me. did any of your doctors say anything about those things? thanks again for your kind words!

At the age of 19, I had a premature boy at 24 weeks. He managed to survive for 21 days (weighed a lil over a pound) Nobody could tell me what happened. My pregnancy had been going great or so I thought. Then two years later I found myself to be pregnant again. I thought I was older, and smarter and things would be better this time. At 5 months I was hospitalized because of low fluid around the baby. After iv fluids it seemed to go up a bit and they released me. A month later I was back for the same reason. They tested me and found that I had a positive ANA and told me that it was a very good indicator of Lupus and that some women just develope it during pregnancy for some reason. They put me on one baby aspirn a day and I managed to stay pregnant till 35 weeks. I have a 11 yr old son now and by some miracle, after trying for over 7 years am 9 weeks pregnant again now. As soon as I found out I started taking baby aspirn. When I went for my Ob appt this past monday the doc said for me to keep taking it and it should prevent any problems for me. I hope like heck that it does. Bedrest and 11 yr olds don't mix well..*L* anyway thanks...and wish me luck please....I will gladly pop a lil baby aspirn a day if it could keep me off my back. Joking.....

Jenny,I know that extreme fatigue is one of the main symptoms of early pregnancy,even in women without ANA.Joint pain isn't,but almost everyone one I know complains of joint pain somewhere in their bodies.I think that we just concentrate on our body symptoms so much just because we were told we have positive ANA's,especially after reading about ANA and all of the diseases it could possibly be connected to.Regarding your painful early pregnancy,that could be because you were in the process of a mc.I know I was in alot of pain before i miscarried.My ob and rheumatologist told me that I don't need heparin or prednisone if I just have a positive ANA.The rheumi told me that I also don't need the baby aspirin,but my ob said to take it(better safe than sorry)I guess the aspirin isn't only for thinning blood but also for preventing inflammation,that's why she wanted me to take it.You said you had all kinds of tests done....did they test you for antiphospholipid syndrome(that is the blood clotting that will cause problems in pregnancy)If they did(which they always do if your ANA is positive after a mc),and your results were negative,then you definately don't need heparin.Women with lupus have ANA's well over 1:1500,according to my rheumi.And even women with lupus have successful pregnancies.I know one who has two children,but she had to wait until she was in remission in order to have a baby.So try not to worry !!!! I suggest to wait at least three months after your mc,and then try again to get pregnant.Your body needs time to heal,(things need to get back into place)Most of all,you need to think positive,and next time you get pregnant try not to worry about your ANA or if your symptoms will get worse.That was the hardest for me,I was freaking out before my ultrasound,thinking the worst.I also was a nervous wreck waiting for my blood test results and everything ended up ok.My ANA is actually down to 1:80.My ob told me to start taking the baby aspirin 1 month before I start trying to get preg. again.Ask your dr. if you should do the same...it won't hurt.I was actually allergic to baby aspirin,and had to go to an allergist to get desensitized,and I'm still taking it.The best of luck to you and your future baby.If you have any questions or you need to talk,email me ....katarina732@yahoo.com

thanks to everyone for their replies. i went into see my perinatologist again, and her feeling was that if i don't need the drug (baby aspirin), i shouldn't take it - she doesn't feel a strongly positive ANA and one miscarriage with my other vague joint problems would suggest a need (i don't have antiphosphilid or other clotting antibodies). if i had another loss, i gather she would think differently.... i guess for now i'm just going to stick with prenatal vitamins and start taking fish oil, which she recommended. in my heart though, i wonder if the doctors don't really know what to do with us when we don't have defined disorders. given the range of therapies suggested on the web for the same conditions, it seems maybe that's the case. as for the pain during pregnancy, i've had problems with joint pain for years even when not pregnant - but it was much, much worse, and rapidly so, once i conceived. i have wondered if it was because the pregnancy and hormones etc. weren't right, or if it was an exaccerbation of whatever inflammatory processes i already had and an indication that maybe pregnancy was not a good idea for me. i guess there's no way to know. after my d & c (mine was a missed miscarriage) i also developed a feeling of heaviness and numbness in my lower legs and lower arms that lasted only for several weeks, as well as asthma-like chest problems that have stuck around since. needless to say, i've been a bit terrified to try again. but if i do, i know i need to think positively about it. i hope others of you keep posting as your pregnancies progress. i think it helps other women to have courage.

Thank you everyone for your posts. I just found this website. I am 7 wks pregnant. I have had 2 MC and 2 live births. I am not sure if my positive ANA is the factor in my MC's. My 2 MC's have happened within the last two years and I have not had a live birth since the MC. My daughter is now 3 1/2 and she was a twin. I lost one but managed to hang on to her. I had alot of bleeding and cramps in my fourth month of pregnancy but after that everything was fine. This pregnany has begun the same way as my daughters. I have twins but have lost one. I had a very small amount of spotting for 2 days and it stopped. I was never on asprin and I intend to ask my doctor. She has mentioned itwith my last pregnancy, but has not put me on it with this pregnancy. I pray for all of you and wish you all the best. I know that I am blessed with my 2 children and I continue to pray for this pregnancy. Shannon September 30, 2005

What a relief to find you guys! Has anyone with an ANA above 1:320 had a successful pregnancy without treatment? Has anyone with a high ANA gotten sick because of pregnancy? My number is usually 1:640 but it has gone up into the thousands. I've never been diagnosed with anything though since all my other bloodwork is normal. I've had one m/c at 5 weeks. Like some of you I've also been anxious about what effects pregnancy will have on me. I don't want to get sick and not be able to be a good mommy. With that worry and a loss I'm fearful about trying again!

i mc at 14 or 15 weeks (missed abortion) had my first son. They told me i was losing him, sent me to specialist and ana t_tre was very high, also tested me for lupus and said i didnt have it. however, they said someone with a precursor to arthritis can test positive years before, such as my mom. Its just people didnt know about it back then. I then went on to have twins. Im looking to have a 4th but im a little scared. Wont tell my husband that as he is a bit hesitant i guess because of all the high risk pregnancies,bleeding, etc. the baby asprin seemed to do the trick, my twins were almost 9 pounds each. I feel blessed since I lost my first child but I want another. I have a history for my next doctor, they need to know all your history, i wish i can get a copy from my old doctor but i dont know how to reach them. thanks zanoni@adelphia.net

I also have a high positive ANA (1:640), 1 miscarriage, and either fibromyalgia or autoimmune disease, possibly sjorgen's or a "lupus-like" condition, nothing for sure?? After so many vials of blood that's all they can come up with! LOL. I'm wondering: anyone out there have these problems and also have a reaction to birth control pills? I've tried to take them several times, even progesterin only low-dose, and they make my other problems much, much worse. That has me worried about pregnancy, with all those hormones floating around! Thanks.

I had a missed miscarriage at 11 weeks but had an internal ultrasound at 8 weeks and saw and heard the babie's heartbeat. My dr. said the heartbeat was strong and everything was ok. I had another ulrasound at 12 weeks and he said he couldn't find the heartbeat. I had to have a D&C and weeks later blood tests came back with high ANA t_ter 1:320. I just saw a rheumatologist and she suggested that I may need to either go on coumadin or heparin shots when we get pregnant again. Has anyone heard of taking coumadin? I asked about baby aspirin but she said it wouldn't be strong enough. Also she said that it is very likely that the ANA is why i miscarried. Does anyone know any ways to lower ANA?

i might get a second opinion.... my great uncle has been on coumadin for years. it's a blood thinner for people prone to stroke, but i've never heard of its use (or safety?) in pregnancy. heparin has been used but has some risks, more certainly than baby aspirin. my question would also be: if you only have ana and not other antibodies, and the rheumi doesn't think it caused your miscarriage (presumably by clotting), why would they treat you as if you had a clotting factor? reading everyone's stories, i'm a little disconcerted that the protocols are so different for the same condition. good luck!

I found out early this year that I had a positive ANA (1:160) after experiencing a stillbirth at 36 weeks which was not related to the ANA. I had second blood test done in July and it came back negative??? I am currently 20 weeks pregnant again and my dr. has me taking a baby aspirin every day and I plan to continue doing so until delivery. Does anyone know at what point clotting becomes less of a concern? Or does miscarriage/ stillbirth remain a possibility until the baby is born? I don't think that I will "rest easy" until this baby is hopefully born safe and healthy, but I would like to know that I can have a little more peace of mind at some point. Thanks!

I also have a positive ANA after 2 m/c's. It was 1:64 and then 1:80 two weeks later. I am seeing R/E but should I also see a Rheumi? I have had achy bones for years and had 1:40 ANA 8 years ago. I am trying this month; should I already be on the baby aspirin? Anything else? I had a total workup and nothing else was found but my PCP did the test and really isn't that good. So sorry to hear of all of our losses, but good to hear success's

renee - several of my friends have had premature babies, and i think that if the baby is born after about 32 weeks, its chances are great these days. i have read in some places that doctors like to take patients off aspirin sometime before delivery , but i can't remember exactly when. i think it was because you don't want blood too thin at that point, but i'm not sure. and kim - i'm not sure about the tests you took, but i know they should at least test for antiphosphilid antibodies (apa) after two miscarriages - they are a known clotting factor and sometimes overlap with ana. other things my drs test for are lupus coagulants, anti-ro antibodies and complements. good luck to both of you, and congratulations, renee on making it so far!