Should I get tested?!

Should I get tested?

My maternal aunt has lupus, should I get tested for it? I'm 27 and have no symptoms but am going to lose insurance soon (maybe thats why Im paranoid) How much does hereditary play a role in this? How do they diagnose it?

Hi, I have lupus. Well your Maternal aunt has it. Though genetics does play a part and can run in families, just like any illness, your chances are rather low. even passing it from mother to child is only a 5% chance. I have a 21 year old without it at this point, and a 13 year old without it. The only thing they could tell you is if you have a positive ANA which even healthy people have. Besides, you are 27, and at some point you will have insurance again. Not only that you say you have absoulutly no symptoms.

On the flip side, I know my Lupus came out badly at that age, but it came out after a preganacy. Had I not gotten pregnant with my second child, and had such a difficult pregnancy The suppresd Lupus may not have appeared at all.

Just like women with a family history of Breast Cancer, some decide to be tested for the gene some do not. In Lupus however, they would just run a simple blood tests and see if you have any of the antibodies, which many healthy people do have. and does not in any way suggest you may get it later, but may make you sick with worry. I do know the genetic components to autoimmune diseases. we have several family memebers with them. None with Lupus but me. But we traced back the family kink. If she is the only perosn in your family with an autoimmune disorder, a I can bet it is not genetic, and she just drew the short end of the stick. In the end its up to you. However Im not even sure youll find a dr who will test you with no symptoms.

Good Luck
Chris

You ask how they diagnosis it. Here are the eleven critera from the Rhuemotology association provided by Yahoo health

Diagnostic criteria for lupus
The following criteria are used to distinguish lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE) from other autoimmune and rheumatic diseases.

A person with 4 of these 11 conditions can be diagnosed with lupus; 3 symptoms suggest that lupus is probably present, and 2 raise the possibility of lupus. Symptoms may be present all at once or appear in succession over a period of time. 1

Butterfly (malar) rash on cheeks
Rash on face, arms, neck, torso (discoid rash)
Skin rashes that result from exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet light (photosensitivity)
Mouth or nasal ulcers, usually painless
Joint swelling, stiffness, pain involving two or more joints (arthritis)
Inflammation of the membranes surrounding the lungs (pleuritis) or heart (pericarditis). This inflammation is called serositis.
Abnormalities in urine, such as increased protein or clumps of red blood cells or kidney cells, called cell casts, in the urine
Nervous system problems, such as seizures or psychosis, without known cause
Problems with the blood, such as reduced numbers of red blood cells (anemia), platelets, or white blood cells
Positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) test
Signs of increased autoimmunity (antibodies against normal tissue), as shown by laboratory tests