Positive antinuclear antibodies (ANA)
What are positive antinuclear antibodies?
Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are proteins produced by your immune system. Positive ANA can be associated with autoimmune inflammatory diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren’s syndrome, scleroderma or mixed connective tissue disease. Some individuals may have a false positive ANA without any underlying autoimmune disorders.
Please note: Receiving a positive result does not mean that you have an autoimmune disease. Healthy individuals can also have a false positive ANA, and this likelihood increases with age.
Risk factors
- Systemic autoimmune inflammatory diseases
- Family history
- Thyroid disorders
- Use of certain medications.
Further management if you have positive ANA
- Detailed medical history and physical examination
- Laboratory testing