Anti-Nuclear antibodies: Current concepts and future direction for diagnosing connective tissue disease

Authors

  • K Gautam Department of Pathology, Samyak Diagnostic Pvt. Ltd., Lalitpur

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v5i9.13788

Keywords:

Autoantibodies, Indirect immunofluorescence, Antinuclear antibodies, Systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Identification of antinuclear antibodies has been used for the diagnosis of connective tissue diseases for more than fifty years. Indirect immunofluorescence on human epithelial (HEp-2) cells is considered the gold standard screening method for the detection of antinuclear autoantibodies. As the demand of ANA testing increased, the need for automation and standardization has also come forth. A high level of false positive and false negative cases is seen in various populations making it difficult to take clinical decisions. Newer technologies were introduced for the antibody detection to ensure high sensitivity and specificity. This article intends to provide an overview of the concepts on ANA testing, the different diagnostic methods available, the various patterns and clinical utility, the clinical guidelines to be followed, the drawbacks and what lies ahead in the future of ANA testing.

Journal of Pathology of Nepal (2015) Vol. 5, 766-773

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Abstract
1869
PDF
3711

Downloads

Published

2015-03-27

How to Cite

Gautam, K. (2015). Anti-Nuclear antibodies: Current concepts and future direction for diagnosing connective tissue disease. Journal of Pathology of Nepal, 5(9), 766–773. https://doi.org/10.3126/jpn.v5i9.13788

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 9 (2015)

Section

Review Articles

License

This license enables reusers to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format, so long as attribution is given to the creator. The license allows for commercial use.