Antinuclear antibody panel

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ANA; ANA panel

Veins and arteries vary in size from one patient to another and from one side of the body to the other. Obtaining blood from some people may be more difficult than from others.

Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include:

• Excessive bleeding
• Fainting or feeling light-headed
• Hematoma (blood accumulating under the skin)
• Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)

The ANA can be positive in relatives of people with SLE who do not have SLE themselves.

A positive ANA always needs further evaluation, including a careful history, physical exam, and blood tests for other antibodies, espeically anti-double-strand DNA antibodies.

If the only finding is a low titer of ANA and everything else is negative, there is only a 5% chance of that patient developing systemic lupus erythematosis at some time later in life.

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).

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