Antinuclear
Antibody (ANA):
Indicates Presence of Autoantibodies
Antinuclear Antibody is an antibody
that is directed against structures within the nucleus. Individuals
whose immune system is predisposed to inflammation against their
own body, common among Rheumatoid Arthritis patients, will have
a significant presence of antinuclear antibody. The degenerative
forms of arthritis include antibodies that destroy inflamed joint
tissue within the person's own body. These antibodies are referred
to as autoantibodies. The presence of Antinuclear antibody indicates
the possible presence of autoantibodies.
The arthritis panel includes a test for the presence of antinuclear
antibody to determine the type of diseases. Normally, there is no
antinuclear antibody present in the blood resulting in a negative
test. There are times when a person will have low levels of antinuclear
antibodies for no related reason. A test for antinuclear antibody
may indicate if the immune system will attacks the body's own tissue
instead of foreign material. They are often found in people with
Systemic Lupus
Erythematosus.
The presence of antinuclear antibody could be indicative of the
following:
Symptoms as a result of high levels of antinuclear
antibodies include: fainting or light-headedness, excessive bleeding,
hematoma (blood accumulation under skin), multiple punctured veins,
and infection anytime there is an open wound. Keep in mind other
medication (birth control pills, procainamide, and thiazide diuretics)
can affect the accuracy of this test.
