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Measurement and clinical significance of antinuclear antibodies

Author
Donald B Bloch, MD
Section Editor
Robert H Shmerling, MD
Deputy Editor
Monica Ramirez Curtis, MD, MPH

INTRODUCTION

The detection of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in serum facilitates the diagnosis of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and related autoimmune diseases. Conversely, the absence of ANA in the serum of a patient with suspected SLE also provides important information in that it makes the diagnosis much less likely. This topic will review:

●The indirect immunofluorescence test for ANA

●The significance of common ANA staining patterns and titer of ANA

●Additional techniques to detect ANA

●Advantages and disadvantages of methods to detect ANA

             

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Literature review current through: Jun 2017. | This topic last updated: Jan 05, 2017.
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References
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