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Fibromyalgia distinguished from Lupus with 100% specificity using new test 3/7/16 Fibro News Today

*GG*

senior member
Messages
6,389
Location
Concord, NH
California researchers found that analyzing cell-bound complement activation products (CB-CAPs) ably distinguishes between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and fibromyalgia (FM), and complements current test methods.

Whereas fibromyalgia and lupus might share non-specific symptoms, the two diseases have a radically different underlying cause. Lupus is primarily an inflammatory autoimmune condition, while fibromyalgia is not, and the treatment and prognosis differ accordingly.

Many lupus patients are mistakenly diagnosed with fibromyalgia, however, when they present with symptoms that are non-specific, and do not fulfill formal classification criteria of lupus.


Current laboratory tests include a number of lupus-specific autoantibodies, and antinuclear antibody (ANA) is frequently used. Around 95 percent of all lupus patients test positive for ANA, but the antibody is also found in 14 percent of the general population and 15 percent to 25 percent of fibromyalgia patients. Other tests also suffer from poor sensitivity or specificity.

cont'd

http://fibromyalgianewstoday.com/2016/03/07/cb-caps-assay-can-distinguish-between-lupus-and-fibromyalgia/?utm_source=FM E-mail List&utm_campaign=d285d03f6c-RSS_WEEKLY_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_466e2e0f56-d285d03f6c-71455897
 

Jonathan Edwards

"Gibberish"
Messages
5,256
California researchers found that analyzing cell-bound complement activation products (CB-CAPs) ably distinguishes between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and fibromyalgia (FM), and complements current test methods.

Whereas fibromyalgia and lupus might share non-specific symptoms, the two diseases have a radically different underlying cause. Lupus is primarily an inflammatory autoimmune condition, while fibromyalgia is not, and the treatment and prognosis differ accordingly.

Many lupus patients are mistakenly diagnosed with fibromyalgia, however, when they present with symptoms that are non-specific, and do not fulfill formal classification criteria of lupus.


Current laboratory tests include a number of lupus-specific autoantibodies, and antinuclear antibody (ANA) is frequently used. Around 95 percent of all lupus patients test positive for ANA, but the antibody is also found in 14 percent of the general population and 15 percent to 25 percent of fibromyalgia patients. Other tests also suffer from poor sensitivity or specificity.

cont'd

http://fibromyalgianewstoday.com/2016/03/07/cb-caps-assay-can-distinguish-between-lupus-and-fibromyalgia/?utm_source=FM E-mail List&utm_campaign=d285d03f6c-RSS_WEEKLY_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_466e2e0f56-d285d03f6c-71455897

This is a classic case of a circular argument.

If you can tell that a test identifies a disease in 100% of cases then you must be 100% sure you know those cases, and no others have that disease (to know the test is right). But if you are already 100% sure who has the disease then you didn't need the test - you already knew the diagnosis.

What is proves is that tests that are 100% positive are useless. Life is more complicated I am afraid.
 

*GG*

senior member
Messages
6,389
Location
Concord, NH
This is a classic case of a circular argument.

If you can tell that a test identifies a disease in 100% of cases then you must be 100% sure you know those cases, and no others have that disease (to know the test is right). But if you are already 100% sure who has the disease then you didn't need the test - you already knew the diagnosis.

What is proves is that tests that are 100% positive are useless. Life is more complicated I am afraid.

Oh, bummer, thought this might help bring some clarity to that illness, which would help us with both!

GG
 

Jonathan Edwards

"Gibberish"
Messages
5,256
Oh, bummer, thought this might help bring some clarity to that illness, which would help us with both!

GG

What is more weird is that the test is a test for lupus, not fibromyalgia. It is a bit like the Nuits-Saint George test that identifies 100% of Cotes de Rhone AOC as not NSG. (The test consists of looking at the label - very reliable.) But it also identifies 100% of red plonk from the corner shop as not NSG. As far as I can see the test has nothing to do with fibromyalgia at all. 100% of people with earache would be identified.