title: Diagnostic significance of antinuclear antibodies in neurologic patients.
abstract: In a combined retrospective and prospective study, we tried to define the prevalence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and its clinical relevance in neurological patients. Three hundred twenty-seven neurological patients who had ANA determined because of suspicion of connective tissue disease (CTD), were retrospectively studied. Thirty (9.2%) were ANA positive, 20 (66%) of whom had CTD. Of 327 consecutively admitted patients, prospectively studied, 18 (5.5%) were ANA positive, 5 (28%) of whom had evidence of CTD. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was the most frequently diagnosed CTD. In a prospective study of 48 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, only 1 had detectable ANA at a dilution of 1:40. Lupus anticoagulant (LA) was prospectively detected in 2 patients but was not associated with a vascular or autoimmune systemic disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Michielsens
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Walravens
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vermylen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Carton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology*; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor / Q000032:analysis; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D016682:Lupus Coagulation Inhibitor; D004247:DNA