MEDICAL MATTERS
- Medical Matters features questions asked by Members of the ME Association on health-related topics.
- Dr Charles Shepherd and the ME Association's other advisers answer these questions by sharing their expert knowledge.
- Medical Matters is based on the popular ‘Ask the Doctor’ series in ME Essential magazine.
- It is a free resource that supplements the detailed information contained in the full range of literature that can be found in the website shop.
Search all questions
Choose a letter to see our categories
- Show all
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
- H
- I
- J
- K
- L
- M
- N
- O
- P
- Q
- R
- S
- T
- U
- V
- W
- Y
- 5
- AIDS
- ANA
- ANS
- ASA
- AXA1125 amino acid
- Acetylcholine
- Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors
- Activities of daily living
- Activity
- Activity Management
- Acupuncture
- Adaptations
- Addison's Disease
- Adrenal
- Adrenal Glands
- Adrenalin
- Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
- Advertising Standards Authority
- Aetiology
- Alcohol
- Alcoholism
- Aldosterone
- Aldosteronism
- Alkaline Phosphatase
- All Party Parliamentary Group on ME
- Allergic Rhinitis
- Allergies
- Allergy
- Allodynia
- Alternative
- Alternative Therapies
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Amalgam Fillings
- Amino acid
- Amitriptyline
- Ampligen
- Anabolic therapies
- Anaemia
- Anaesthetics
- Analgesic
- Angina
- Anhedonia
- Anti-CCP
- Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide
- Anti-mitochondrial Antibodies
- Antibiotics
- Antibodies
- Anticoagulants
- Anticonvulsants
- Antidepressants
- Antihistimines
- Antinuclear Antibodies
- Antiphospholipid Syndrome
- Antiresorptive drugs
- Antivirals
- Anxiety
- Apheresis
- Appetite
- Applied Kinesiology
- Appointments
- Arthritis
- Aspirin
- Assessment
- Asthma
- Atypical convulsions.
- Autoantibodies
- Autoimmune
- Autoimmune Disorders
- Autonomic Nervous System
- Autonomic Neuropathy
- Autopsy
- Awareness
Questions in the Category: Antinuclear Antibodies
Classification : ME/CFS
I know that ME and CFS are both classified by the World Health Organisation as a neurological disease. But I’ve also seen statements on the internet to say that ME is now being classified as an autoimmune disease. Is this correct?
Sjögren’s Syndrome
I know that joint pains sometimes occur in ME/CFS and this is a symptom that I’ve occasionally had over many years – but without any swelling, redness or deformity occurring. But I’ve also developed more persistent joint pain, dry eyes and my fatigue levels are considerably worse. My GP is questioning whether I might now have a condition cause Sjögren’s Syndrome which he says can sometimes be misdiagnosed as ME/CFS. But can it co-exist with ME/CFS?
Blood Test: Antinuclear Antibody (ANA)
I have a new and very thorough GP who has decided to thoroughly re-assess my state of health. So he arranged for a number of blood tests – some of which are not usually used to diagnose ME/CFS but are referred to in the investigation section of the MEA purple book. Everything is normal – apart from me having an ANA positive result with a low antibody titre. What does this mean? Should I be concerned?
Dr Charles Shepherd
Dr Shepherd has been Trustee and Hon. Medical Adviser to the ME Association for more than 40 years. He is integral to the charity's activities and provides information and support based on his professional knowledge, personal experience as a doctor with ME/CFS, and the understanding gained from helping many thousands of people with the condition. He was a member of the comittee responsible for the 2021 NICE Clinical Guideline and is a recognised expert on ME/CFS in the UK. His knowledge extends to Post-Viral Fatigue Syndromes (PVFS), Myalgic Encephalopathy/Encephalomyelitis (ME), Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), and Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) or Long Covid.
If you have questions about ME/CFS or Long Covid, you can:
- Review the free information in the What is ME/CFS? section of the website, and the free Covid-19 and Long Covid information in the website shop.
- Review the largest range of literature covering all aspects of living with ME/CFS. Download detailed information about symptoms, diagnosis, management, co-mordities, employment, education, related health conditions, The 2021 NICE Clinical Guideline, welfare benefits etc.
- Join the ME Association as a member and you'll receive the highly-rated ME Essential magazine, and you can ask questions of the charity’s expert advisers including Dr Shepherd.
- Contact us via the ME Connect Telephone Helpline (open 365 days a year) and speak to one of the national team of fully-trained volunteers who waiting to provide information and support.
- Contact us via email or social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn.
Medical Matters is based on the popular ‘Ask the Doctor‘ series featured in the highly-regarded member’s magazine, ME Essential, and in the healthcare professional magazine, ME Medical. Both are produced by the ME Association and published as hard-copy magazines every 3 months and sent to members and healthcare professionals by post to home or business addresses.
If you are an HCP you can sign-up here to receive ME Medical magazine (people with ME/CFS can also nominate their HCP by completing the sign-up form).
