Notes |
Useful for:
- The initial investigation of patients suspected of having a Connective Tissue Disease.
Clinical Information:
- Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA) can occur in both systemic and organ specific autoimmune diseases, however they are most commonly found in systemic rheumatic diseases.
- Examples of systemic rheumatic diseases include: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), discoid lupus erythematosus, drug-induced lupus erythematosus, mixed connective tissue disease, Sjogren’s syndrome, scleroderma (systemic sclerosis), CREST syndrome (calcinosis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly, telangiectasia), rheumatoid arthritis, and polymyositis or dermatomyositis.
Please Note:
- All positive Antinuclear Antibodies (ANAs) are titred at 1:80 and 1:160. This is requested by the laboratory.
- A low titre (1:80) Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) in adults can often be associated with increased age, infection, malignancy, therapy with certain drugs and a range of inflammatory disorders.
- A low titre (1:80) Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) is considered to be clinically relevant in the paediatric population.
- A high titre (1:160 or >1:160) Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) is considered to be clinically relevant in the adult population and is more likely to be associated with a connective tissue disease.
- Patterns of staining reported include: homogenous, speckled, atypical speckled, nucleolar, centromere, mitotic spindle apparatus (MSA) and multiple nuclear dots.
- A centromere pattern is highly suggestive of CREST syndrome (calcinosis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, esophageal dysmotility, sclerodactyly, telangiectasia).
- Where External Institiutions cannot guarantee immediate delivery, samples must be centrifuged, separated and stored at 4oC. Samples can then be transported, as soon as possible, to St. James's Hospital for processing.
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Reference range |
NEG - Negative
1:80 - Positive at 1:80
1:160 - Positive at 1:160
>1:160 - Positive at greater than 1:160
Possible patterns:
Homogenous, speckled, atypical speckled, nucleolar, centromere, mitotic spindle apparatus (MSA) and multiple nuclear dots. |
