title: ANAs in systemic rheumatic disease. Diagnostic significance.
abstract: Development of the lupus erythematosus (LE) cell test some 40 years ago opened up the world of ANAs to the clinician. Armed with the availability of a battery of tests for ANAs of different specificities, the modern clinician has the tools for increased diagnostic sensitivity in rheumatic disease and more accurate differentiation of systemic rheumatic diseases that sometimes present with confusing overlapping clinical features. The tests, however, should not be used indiscriminately, and their interpretation should always be done critically and in the context of the clinical presentation.
mesh_terms: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis*; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000276:immunology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology; D008947:Mixed Connective Tissue Disease / Q000276:immunology; D009220:Myositis / Q000276:immunology; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000276:immunology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear