Positive ANA: What might be the cause?

Hi @freedomwarrior, there are several discussions in the Autoimmune Diseases group about positive ANA testing. Here's a short list.

- Positive ANA’s and GI issues: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/positive-anas/
- Help! Positive ANA with swelling, joint and muscle pain and brain fog: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/help-2/
- Terrible fatigue for months, positive ANA: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/terrible-fatigue-for-months-positive-ana/
– Question on ANA and dsDNA: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/question-on-ana-and-dsdna/
– Positive ANA and ENA Panel: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/positive-ana-and-ena-panel/

What symptoms are you experiencing that led you to get tested? What exposure have you had that points to mercury toxicity as a potential cause?

Hello @freedomwarrior and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I hope that others with concerns about mercury toxicity will join in this discussion.

If you care to share more, this might help me to find others who might be dealing with this. You indicated that you had a positive ANA is that correct? You also say that you believe that it is due to mercury toxicity.

Have you been exposed to mercury at some time? Did your doctor test for heavy metals?

Am interested in this - have lots of issues - but sometimes used to say to spouse "I feel poisoned." I am wondering about all but 12 teeth were full to the brim with metal fillings... over a lifetime I have read they leach into body, yet some sites say no. I am 77 and had first metal fillings when about 14 which stayed in mouth and had more fillings in same teeth.. how would know I wonder. J.

Yes, my ANA is positive and was first discovered in 2018. I saw a rheumatologist who told me that all of my specific autoimmune disease tests were negative.
I had the test repeated in March 2021 and it returned positive, level at 80, nuclear, and homogenous, the same as in 2019.
Quest and the VA heavy metals tests do not differentiate between Mercury types and do not specify which heavy metals their tests involve.
LabCorp’s occupational exposure test returned positive but well below the referenced standard. This test is an acute exposure test.
I found QuickSilver Scientific’s “TriTest” that differentiates between dimethylmercury and Elemental Mercury, and tests blood, hair and urine for burden and excretion.
My test, after three years of chasing affirmation and quantification, returned. It showed positive Methylmercury and Elemental Mercury toxicity plus poor excretion of Elemental Mercury but some excretion of Methylmercury via head hair.
I seek a clinical chelation detoxification because holistic protocol is cost prohibitive for me. I could write a book of my journey to affirmation, but I must care for myself first.
I am certain that there are other people, especially Veterans, that may be Mercury toxic and not know it given the ADA and FDA chronic denial of Elemental Mercury toxicity from Dental Amalgam. Sushi and Sashimi popularity has also increased significantly, and in my case, contributed to my Methylmercury toxicity or accounted for it entirely.
My total Mercury bodily burden is 3.19 ng/mL. The CDC emergent burden value is 10 ng/ml. By QuickSilver’s methodology, the CDC total burden range is 0.038-9.96, derived from 1,938 tested patients. The CDC total burden reference average is 0.833 ng/mL as compared to my 3.19, to demonstrate my toxicity level.
I have not been able to find a toxicity level to symptom comparison, which would be useful for detoxification urgency qualification, quantification, or category, should such exist.
Mercury toxicity is just one of several significant medical concerns and I would rather be diagnosed and treated for them concurrently as two (so far) are of unknown type or origin.
More later..

There are several autoimmune diseases that will cause positive ANA results...PBC, Sjogren’s, RA, etc. Not a lot is known about what causes autoimmune diseases, triggers may be infections and toxins, including mercury. I did have my metal fillings removed more than 25 years ago, but tested positive for ANA about 1.5 years ago and have PBC, Raynaud Syndrome, and Sjogren’s. Certainly removing toxins from our body, eating well, etc. is important, but we may never know what caused our illness. I’ve had an impeccable diet, eating organic, no sugar, no red meat, etc. for decades and I have three autoimmune diseases.

If you haven’t had a full panel of labs to find out if you have other autoimmune issues you might consider doing this. Many are related and ancillary to each other. For me anyway, neuropathy is new and is assumed to be caused by Sjogren’s, with which I was only recently diagnosed. Since most of us will not find cures it’s a matter of treating our wide range of symptoms, which, I’m discovering vary depending on the disease and may require seeing multiple specialists.

Thank you for your reply. That’s one of the problems: multiple specialists. Mercury causes a wide range of symptoms and is not in Mainstream Medicine, where it belongs.
There are emergent protocols for Mercury poisoning but not for chronic exposure. Detoxification is limited to emergent and holistic medicine and absent is a toxicity level-to-symptom correlation.
The ADA and FDA are “in bed together” as corruption terms go, which deprives patients who suffer Mercury’s toxic effects of remedy. Look to Switzerland for an example.
The time is NOW to raise the temperature (pun intended)..!

I’m just beginning to be immersed in the world of specialists. It certainly does nothing to help my mental disposition as I feel like I’m being passed around because no one cares. And, instead of a whole body approach, I just get more drugs to take for symptoms.

I’ve been a waste management specialist for 30+years. We spend millions of taxpayer dollars to dispose of highly toxic chemicals that people use in their homes and accumulate in our bodies. Plus, polystyrene and microplastics that all of us have in our bodies. And, of course mercury, as in your case, lead, etc.

Pharmaceuticals are manufactured overseas because the industry is too toxic to manufacture the drugs that our medical industry prescribes. Yes, many are life saving, including the anti rejection meds I take. But, many are overprescribed or unused and end up in trash or sewers.

Corporations have been poisoning us for years and it’s ignored by EPA, FDA, and, sadly many in the medical profession. Everything is connected and it’s having a deleterious impact on our planet, people, and animals. And, unfortunately too many people don’t care.

I truly wish you the best in your search for an answer and solution for improved health!

Rick, have you contacted mercury toxicity researchers directly? Like the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences? Or, ones affiliated with hospitals? I recently contacted a research center in immunology, sent a brief on my medical history, recent blood labs, and symptoms and a research MD, specialist in Sjogren’s and other autoimmune diseases, replied to me the next day. We spoke for about 20 minutes and he asked me to send my full lab report and a couple hours later he wrote back.

After looking at my labs he confirmed that I most likely do have Sjogren’s and outlined the specialists I need to see and tests I need to have. He’s also concerned, due to other indicators in my labs, that I may have another disease going on which requires some special test not very many labs can do. So, I at least have a mission to work with specialists and hopefully get the tests and treatment I need. I live in a rural area so few, if any, MD specialists know much about rare autoimmune disorders. But, I am at least more hopeful.

I had old fillings removed about 10-12 yrs ago. The dentist did do anything to handle the removal so much was swallowed. Since then i have developed CKD, ANCA VASCULITIS and mysterious skin issues which started on ny legs and then took up residence on my face. I have vern going to the Dr House If dermatology for 5 years. No real luck clearing it up. Any chance there is a connection to the filling replacement process?

Hello Athenalee, please keep us posted as to your outcomes regarding Sjögren’s. I believe I have recently developed the same as a result of my SFN, having the usual dry eyes, mouth, ears and skin. I had to wait for 3 months for my rheumatologist appt. so the Sjögren’s hasn’t been actually diagnosed yet. I’ve been able to deal with the new symptoms and prefer not to take drugs if I don’t absolutely need them. I did have labs done and my ANA was negative. Due to diet changes a year ago for my SFN I have lost over 10 lbs. and am trying without success to gain it back! I wish you the best with your testing and treatments. Helen