Antinuclear antibodies

Antinuclear antibodies

Anti-nuclear antibodies are antibodies directed against the cell nucleus. They are raised in several conditions, usually in an auto-immune condition where the immune system makes antibodies to fight its own body. Normally a test (see External Links) is administered in people with many arthritic type symptoms or skin rashes to exclude systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE). The rashes could be over both cheeks and shaped like a butterfly, or a wolf. They are known to affect almost any part of the body including kidneys and brain.

Associated conditions

A high ANA titer may indicate systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE can be present with titers from 1 to 40 and higher. Almost all people with SLE have a high ANA titer. However, most people with a high ANA titer do not have SLE. Only about one-third of people who are referred to a rheumatologist for high ANA titers are diagnosed with SLE. Other conditions may cause a high ANA titer. About 30% to 40% of people with rheumatoid arthritis have a high ANA titer.

Other conditions include
*autoimmune diseases, such as scleroderma, Sjögren's syndrome, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and myositis
*Raynaud's syndrome
*viral infections
*liver disease

Complementary information

Although an ANA titer may help support a diagnosis for these conditions, it is not used by itself to confirm a diagnosis. A thorough medical history, physical examination, and other tests are needed to confirm a suspected autoimmune disease.

Some apparently healthy individuals have high levels of antinuclear antibodies. For instance, some people with a family history of autoimmune disease may have a high ANA titer. The higher the titer, however, the more likely it is that the person has an autoimmune disease.

External links

* [http://www.uptodate.com/patients/content/topic.do?topicKey=~ooNN6hmZimjZJE UpToDate Patient Information: Antinuclear antibodies (ANA]
* [http://www.ii.bham.ac.uk/clinicalimmunology/CISimagelibrary Neuroimmunology, The Medical School, Birmingham University] - Abid R Karim, Birmingham UK

*http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=6709

* [http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/ana/test.html ANA: The Test]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • antinuclear antibodies — (ANA) antibodies directed against nuclear antigens; ones against a variety of different antigens are almost invariably found in systemic lupus erythematosus and are frequently found in rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma (systemic sclerosis),… …   Medical dictionary

  • Antinuclear antibody — An unusual antibody that is directed against structures within the nucleus of the cell. Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) are found in patients whose immune system is predisposed to cause inflammation against their own body tissues. Antibodies that… …   Medical dictionary

  • Antinuclear antibody test — A test for unusual antibodies that are directed against structures within the nucleus of the cell. Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) indicate the possible presence of autoimmunity. The fluorescent antinuclear antibody test (FANA) was designed by… …   Medical dictionary

  • antinuclear — adjective Date: 1958 1. tending to react with cell nuclei or their components (as DNA) < antinuclear antibodies > 2. opposing the use or production of nuclear power …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • antinuclear — Having an affinity for or reacting with the cell nucleus. * * * an·ti·nu·cle·ar n(y)ü klē ər adj being antibodies or autoantibodies that react with components and esp. DNA of cell nuclei and that tend to occur frequently in connective tissue… …   Medical dictionary

  • antinuclear — ˌ adjective 1. [anti + nucleus + ar (I)] : being antibodies or autoantibodies that react with components and especially DNA of cell nuclei and that tend to occur frequently in connective tissue diseases (as systemic lupus erythematosus,… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Antibody, antinuclear — An unusual antibody that is directed against structures within the nucleus of the cell. Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) are found in patients whose immune system is predisposed to cause inflammation against their own body tissues. Antibodies that… …   Medical dictionary

  • Anti-p62 antibodies — AutoAbBox Autoantigen = p62 OneIsoform = Yes OneIsoformSpecialName = Nucleoporin 62kDA OneGene = NUP62 OneOrgan = Bile Duct OneTissue = OneCell = OneAlso = OneDisease = Primary biliary cirrhosis OneIgClass = OneIgGSubclass = OneHLA1 = DR2 (weak)… …   Wikipedia

  • Anti-cardiolipin antibodies — (ACA) are antibodies often directed against cardiolipin and found in several diseases including syphiliscite journal | author = Tringali GR, Julian AJ, Halbert WM | title = Effect of 2 mercaptoethanol treatment on anticardiolipin reactivity in… …   Wikipedia

  • ANA — Antinuclear antibody, an unusual antibody directed against structures within the nucleus of the cell. ANAs are found in patients whose immune system is predisposed to cause inflammation against their own body tissues. Antibodies that are directed …   Medical dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”