Antinuclear antibodies

WikiDoc Resources for Antinuclear antibodies
Articles
Most recent articles on Antinuclear antibodies Most cited articles on Antinuclear antibodies Review articles on Antinuclear antibodies Articles on Antinuclear antibodies in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ
Media
Powerpoint slides on Antinuclear antibodies Images of Antinuclear antibodies Photos of Antinuclear antibodies Podcasts & MP3s on Antinuclear antibodies Videos on Antinuclear antibodies
Evidence Based Medicine
Cochrane Collaboration on Antinuclear antibodies Bandolier on Antinuclear antibodies TRIP on Antinuclear antibodies
Clinical Trials
Ongoing Trials on Antinuclear antibodies at Clinical Trials.gov Trial results on Antinuclear antibodies Clinical Trials on Antinuclear antibodies at Google
Guidelines / Policies / Govt
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Antinuclear antibodies NICE Guidance on Antinuclear antibodies NHS PRODIGY Guidance FDA on Antinuclear antibodies CDC on Antinuclear antibodies
Books
Books on Antinuclear antibodies
News
Antinuclear antibodies in the news Be alerted to news on Antinuclear antibodies News trends on Antinuclear antibodies
Commentary
Blogs on Antinuclear antibodies
Definitions
Definitions of Antinuclear antibodies
Patient Resources / Community
Patient resources on Antinuclear antibodies Discussion groups on Antinuclear antibodies Patient Handouts on Antinuclear antibodies Directions to Hospitals Treating Antinuclear antibodies Risk calculators and risk factors for Antinuclear antibodies
Healthcare Provider Resources
Symptoms of Antinuclear antibodies Causes & Risk Factors for Antinuclear antibodies Diagnostic studies for Antinuclear antibodies Treatment of Antinuclear antibodies
Continuing Medical Education (CME)
CME Programs on Antinuclear antibodies
International
Antinuclear antibodies en Espanol Antinuclear antibodies en Francais
Business
Antinuclear antibodies in the Marketplace Patents on Antinuclear antibodies
Experimental / Informatics
List of terms related to Antinuclear antibodies

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Associate Editor-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]

Overview

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.

Interpreting Test Results

• 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.
• Many conditions may result in a high ANA titer. These conditions include autoimmune diseases, such as scleroderma, Sjögren's syndrome, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and myositis. Other conditions with a high ANA titer include Raynaud's syndrome, viral infections, and liver disease. 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.
• Positive ANA is also commonly seen in Sjogren's Syndrome, the second most common auto-immune disease (more common than Lupus)

DISEASE	ANA FREQUENCY (%)
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)	90-100
Discoid Lupus Erythematosus	21-50
Drug-Induced Lupus	95
Mixed Connective Tissue Disease (MTCD)	100
Scleroderma	31-90
CREST syndrome	95
Rheumatoid Arthritis	10-60
Felty's Syndrome	60-10
Dermatomyositis	40
Autoimmune Chronic Hepatitis	45-100
Myasthenia Gravis	35-50
Immune Thrombocytopenia	50-70
Autoimmune Thyroiditis	40-50
Leukemias	70
Infectious Mononucleosis	30-70

Differential Diagnosis

• Advanced age
• Chronic active hepatitis
• Cirrhosis
• Drugs
• HIV infection
• Mixed Connective Tissue Disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Necrotizing vasculitis
• Periarteritis nodosa
• Pregnant women
• Pulmonary Fibrosis
• Raynaud's Disease
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Silicone gel implants
• Sjogren's Syndrome
• Subacute bacterial endocarditis
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
• Tuberculosis
• Diabetes Mellitus (Type I)

External links

• Neuroimmunology, The Medical School, Birmingham University - Abid R Karim, Birmingham UK

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

• ANA: The Test

Template:WikiDoc Sources