A titer of
1:160 or above
is commonly considered a positive test result. Other conditions with ANA associations include Crohn’s disease, mononucleosis, subacute bacterial endocarditis, tuberculosis, and lymphoproliferative diseases.
What is a high titer ANA?
A positive ANA test is usually reported as both a ratio (called a titer) and a pattern, such as smooth or speckled. Certain diseases are more likely to have certain patterns. The higher the titer, the more likely the result is
a “true positive” result
, meaning you have significant ANAs and an autoimmune disease.
What does ANA titer 1 80 speckled mean?
A low ANA titer (1:40 to 1:80) may be associated with preclinical disease or lack of disease. Titers >1:80 are
consistent with autoimmune disease
. In cases of positive ANA, the staining pattern helps predict the disease type.
What does an ANA titer of 1 160 mean?
Titers ≥ 1:160 usually indicate the presence of
active SLE
, although occasionally other autoimmune disease may induce these high titers. There are now known groups of ANA-negative lupus patients.
What does an ANA titer of 1 320 mean?
If the ANA titre is in the middle (e.g. 1:320), the result is less
clear
and should be interpreted in the clinical context. If the ANA titre is high, other tests may be ordered to determine what type of nuclear protein is being attacked.
Does speckled ANA mean lupus?
Peripheral or rim (only the outline of the nucleus is seen, like a halo)—not common, almost always indicates lupus. Speckled (tiny dots throughout the nucleus)—
a common pattern, not specific
, but often indicating anti-Sm or anti-RNP antibodies (see below) found in lupus or mixed connective tissue disease.
Can positive ANA go away?
The new criteria require that the test for antinuclear antibody (ANA) must be positive, at least once, but not necessarily at the time of the diagnosis decision because an
ANA can become negative with treatment or remission
.
Is a titer of 1 160 high?
A titer of 1:160 or above is
commonly considered a positive test result
. Other conditions with ANA associations include Crohn’s disease, mononucleosis, subacute bacterial endocarditis, tuberculosis, and lymphoproliferative diseases.
What is a normal ANA titer level?
Titers of
1:80 or lower
are less likely to be significant. (ANA titers of less than or equal to 1:40 are considered negative.) Even higher titers are often insignificant in patients over 60 years of age.
Can low vitamin D cause positive ANA?
Elevated ANA is sometimes found in healthy individuals, and has been consistently associated with female sex and older age (12-14). ANA positivity has been associated with vitamin D deficiency in autoimmune disease patients (15-17), but little is known about vitamin D and ANA in healthy populations.
Should I worry about a positive ANA test?
So if you have a positive ANA, don’t panic. The next step is to see
a rheumatologist
who will determine if additional testing is needed and who will make sure you will get the best care for your particular situation.
Is a positive ANA test serious?
The presence of antinuclear
antibodies is a positive test result
. But having a positive result doesn’t mean you have a disease. Many people with no disease have positive ANA tests — particularly women older than 65.
What are the symptoms of a positive ANA?
- Joint and/or muscle pain, stiffness or swelling.
- Tiredness.
- Recurring or persistent fever.
- A red rash on the cheeks and bridge of the nose that looks like a butterfly.
- Weakness.
- Light sensitivity.
What’s worse MS or lupus?
Yet there are differences as well. In general,
lupus does more generalized damage to your body than MS
, which primarily damages the nervous system.
What cancers are associated with positive ANA?
Neoplastic diseases may cause positive ANA. Some authors have described that ANA is found in the sera from
lung, breast, head and neck cancer
patients as frequently as in RA and SLE 3, 4, 5. Chapman et al. 6 has suggested that in breast cancer they may be used as an aid to early diagnosis.
What is a high titer for lupus?
An ANA
titer of 1:40 or higher is considered positive
. An ANA titer of less than 1:40 is useful for ruling out SLE in children (sensitivity of 98%). A repeated negative result makes a diagnosis of SLE unlikely but not impossible. The ANA titer does not correlate with the severity of the disease.
