Positive ANA

Your positive ANA along with your skin problems could indicate SLE, lupus confined to the skin (usually with a negative ANA, however) or another rheumatologic disorder such as dermatomyositis. All of these conditions are associated with a positive ANA and can cause skin rashes.

In lupus, the most common problems are round, sharply defined skin inflammation about the size of a nickel or a quarter, called discoid lupus; sores in the mouth similar to "canker sores"; a rash across the bridge of the nose onto both cheeks (called a butterfly rash, or malar rash), and sensitivity to the sun, in which even brief exposure can cause fever, a significant rash or burn, and a generally ill feeling.

Do you have any of the following:

• joint pain in multiple joints

• sharp chest pain worsened by breathing or lying down

• abdominal pain

• a history of seizures or psychosis?

Yes, I have one or more of those problems.

No, I have none of those problems.