Antinuclear antibody panel

A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X

ANA; ANA panel

Usually, there is no detectable ANA in the blood (negative test). Sometimes, however, people who do not have any specific disease may have low levels of ANA for no obvious reason.

ANA is reported as a "titer." Low titers are in the range of 1:40 to 1:60. A positive ANA is much more significant if you also have antibodies against the double-stranded form of DNA.

ANA does not confirm a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE). However, a lack of ANA makes that diagnosis much less likely.

Although the ANA is most often identified with SLE, a positive ANA can also be a sign of other autoimmune diseases.

---

---

The presence of ANA in the blood may be due to:

• Chronic liver disease
• Collagen vascular disease
• Drug-induced lupus erythematosus
• Myositis (inflammatory muscle disease)
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Sjogren syndrome
• Systemic lupus erythematosus

Increased ANA levels may sometimes be seen in people with:

• Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma)
• Thyroid disease

Review Date: 02/10/2011
Reviewed By: Michael E. Makover, professor and attending in Rheumatology, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).