Nuclear Antibodies (ANA), Serum

Five percent of the apparently “normal population” demonstrate serum ANA. This autoimmune antibody creates a strongly positive reaction in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Low titres of ANA reactivity may be seen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, discoid lupus, necrotizing vasculitis, Sjogren’s syndrome, chronic active hepatitis, pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, pneumoconiosis, tuberculosis, malignancy, age over 60, as well as in SLE, especially if the disease is inactive or under treatment. Weakly positive reactions (e.g. 1/80) are not uncommon and are usually of little clinical significance. Immunofluorescence patterns correlate with the type of disease. There are now known groups of “ANA-negative” lupus patients. Such patients often have antibodies to SS-A/Ro antigen and subacute cutaneous lupus.

1 ml Serum Stability: 3 Days at 2-8 °C

Titre and pattern are reported.

Negative: < 1/80 Titre