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Persistent Positive ANA, Now DFS70 – Does This Indicate Recovery?
I'm looking for insights from anyone with similar experiences regarding my autoimmune markers and test results over the past couple of years. Despite a consistently positive ANA, other autoimmune markers have remained negative. Here's a chronological summary of my test history:
Autoimmune Markers & Related Tests (2023–2025)
September 2023
Anti-CCP (Rheumatoid Arthritis Marker): 2.1 u/mL (Normal < 5 u/mL) → Negative
Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA): Positive, Homogeneous pattern, Titer 1:5120
Suggestive of conditions like SLE, drug-induced lupus, etc.
February 2024
Anti-CCP: 0.64 u/mL (Normal < 5 u/mL) → Negative
ANA: Positive, Dense Fine Speckled (DFS) pattern, Titer 1:2560
Anti-dsDNA: 3.4 IU/mL (Negative < 20)
Rheumatoid Factor (RF): < 14 IU/mL (Negative)
CRP: 0.5 mg/L (Normal)
June 2024
ANA: Positive, Homogeneous pattern, Titer 1:1280
Other Autoimmune Markers:
Serum Anti-dsDNA (Quantitative): 3.4 IU/mL → Negative
Serum Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase IgG: < 0.5 → Negative
Serum Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase IgA: -2.3 → Negative
Serum IgE: 528 (High)
Serum IgA: 2.77 (Normal)
Serum IgG: 15.1 (Normal)
Serum IgM: 1.0 (Normal)
Serum Anti-Cardiolipin IgG: 0.5 Negative
Serum Anti-Cardiolipin IgM: -0.7. Negative
Serum Beta-2 Glycoprotein IgG: Negative
Serum Beta-2 Glycoprotein IgM: -2.1
Serum ANCA (Anti-PR3, Anti-MPO): < 2 → Negative
IDA/IDD/ENA/IgG Test: Negative for antibodies related to autoimmune liver disease, Sharp syndrome, systemic lupus, Sjogren's syndrome, CREST syndrome, systemic sclerosis, and myositis.
Serum Complement C3: Negative
Serum Complement C4: Negative
Lupus Anticoagulant L1 Screening: Negative
ESR: 12 mm/hr (Normal < 20 mm/hr)
September 2024
ANA: Positive, Speckled pattern, Titer 1:640
Anti-dsDNA: Negative (qualitative test by Crithidia luciliae)
November 2024
ANA: Positive, DFS (Diffuse Fine Speckled) pattern, Titer 1:320
January 2025
ANA: Positive, DFS70 (AC-2) pattern, Titer 1:320
ESR: 1 mm/hr (Normal < 20 mm/hr)
Overall Summary & Questions
Over the past few months, my symptoms of vasculitis and joint pain have dramatically improved as my ANA titres have been decreasing. I feel significantly better now, though I still have some mild symptoms(vasculitis on arms and legs). However, I'm particularly curious about the DFS70 pattern that has emerged in my most recent tests.
Given that my ESR is very low and my ANA is now showing the DFS70 pattern at a lower titre, what does this really mean in my case? Could this indicate a shift in my condition, or is it possible that this pattern reflects a more benign scenario?
I would love to hear from anyone with similar experiences or insights on the DFS70 pattern in this context.
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My antinuclear are similar. I heard some indicate autipoimu e disease you might have had or still have.
What are you being treated for? I got PMR and have been on low dose of prednisone for almost 3 years. I also have other autoimmune diseases, but my test always say homogeneous and sometimes speckled titres. Somes I don’t think be
Ven ypthey know what it is.
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2 ReactionsThanks for sharing your story of self help and determination.
I wonder if meds played some role in down-regulating the ANAs.
Were you ever on a TNF blocker or steroids. You have had a very thorough
workup and results are encouraging. We can do a lot for our inflammation
with diet and lifestyle changes. You might be onto something with the
diffuse fine speckled antibodies being protective or even a positive prognostic sign. There is not a lot of known about what they mean. Your care plan has
likely reduced your IL-6 and TNF. Have you been on statins for your systemic
inflammation?
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2 ReactionsI haven't been on any medications, but I have followed an anti-inflammatory diet along with an extensive supplement regimen.
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2 ReactionsSorry to ask such a stupid question."what is DFS70? “ I have never had blood work with that type of test examined . I also never heard that statins are helpful for inflammation. ( though I do take a fairly high dose of rosuvastatin”
What does speckled mean?
Also, have you heard of an ANA result that says Abnormal. Not negative or positive?
I’m recalling sime things in my tests. I haven’t looked at them in a couple of months. Rheumatologist thinks I’m not suffering from autoimmune disorder. I mean, I have type 1 diabetes, psoriasis and hypothyroidism, but besides those things,
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1 ReactionDM type one, hypothyroidism and psoriasis can all be
considered autoimmune diseases.
A speckled pattern refers to the appearance of fluorescent
antibody under microscopic view of specially prepared cells
in a lab test for systemic autoimmune diseases. The pattern can be seen in normal people that show no symptoms as well. Diffuse Fine Speckled (DFS) 70 is a large protein antibody molecule . 70 is the “weight”measure of the molecule in biology terms.
It is thought it may be a good sign that our AntiNuclear
Antibodies -ANAs are not the type causing disease if
DFS antibodies are measurable as well in our battery of
tests.
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2 ReactionsI have had a speckled ANA positive
A speckled ANA pattern indicates the presence of antibodies that target specific proteins in the nucleus of cells. This pattern is often associated with autoimmune diseases such as:
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren's syndrome, Scleroderma, and Rheumatoid arthritis
Have you had the gland biopsy by an ENT and the test by the eye doctor for Sjogrens?
DFS70 antibodies are a subgroup of ANA that appear as a fine, dense speckled pattern under a microscope
They are found in 10% of healthy people, but only a small number of people with autoimmune rheumatic disease
They are a useful marker to help distinguish people with positive ANA who don't develop systemic autoimmune disease
Positive Ana still means your autoimmune system is messed up. Mines always high.
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3 ReactionsMy ANA is Abnormal. Not negative or positive. I’m not sure what that means.
After loads of blood work reviewed in detail by my Duke rheumatologist, neurologist, endocrinologist, ophthalmologist and ENT, they don’t think I have an autoimmune disorder, such as lupus, Sjogren’s, etc. I feel I need to trust their opinion. I have worked on my health anxiety with my therapist for over a year and he encouraged me to advocate for myself medically, then accept the diagnosis. So, I’m moving forward. Fortunately, I’m doing really well and except for a few issues, feel awesome.
Oh, BTW, my grandfather had RA, as do several first cousins and uncle. My aunt has lupus. Another cousin has type 1 diabetes like me. And another cousin has psoriatic arthritis. I was negative for RA, but do have psoriasis.
We are of eastern european descent.
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1 ReactionInteresting to hear about your background. I have a positive ANA (dense speckled) and psoriasis and my grandmother had psoriasis and RA and my cousins have Raynaud’s Disease. But I don’t have lupus or other autoimmune issues besides the psoriasis, to my knowledge. All family members are of Eastern European ancestry (Ashkenazi Jews).
Keep I’m mind that with psoriasis and other systemic
inflammatory diseases we need preventive measures
to avoid cardiovascular disease.
Our risk factors should be evaluated and we may need
to consider statins and lifestyle modifications.
Not all physicians are aware of the connection of autoimmunity and atherosclerosis.