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1: J Clin Pathol. 2008 Mar;61(3):283-6.Click here to read Links
Erratum in:
J Clin Pathol. 2008 May;61(5):688.

The clinical significance of antinucleolar antibodies.

Khan S, Alvi A, Holding S, Kemp ML, Raine D, Doré PC, Sewell WA.

Path Links Immunology, Scunthorpe General Hospital, Scunthorpe, UK. sujoykhan@gmail.com

BACKGROUND: The importance of antinucleolar antibodies seen by indirect immunofluorescence on HEp-2 cells, although associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc), in unselected patients is unknown. AIMS: To determine the true clinical significance of antinucleolar antibodies in an unselected patient population. METHODS: Antinucleolar antibody (ANoA) positive samples were identified in the immunology laboratory during routine autoimmune screening tests; case notes were reviewed using a standard proforma. RESULTS: 104 patients with ANoA were identified and ANoA+ samples were subclassified into homogeneous, clumpy and speckled antinucleolar types. SSc was evident in only two (1.8%) patients. Other connective tissue diseases were identified in 33 patients (32%); 22 patients (21%) had evidence of various malignancies. Both disordered liver function and anaemia were seen in 22 patients and were the commonest laboratory abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: Neither the presence nor subtype of ANoA is specific for systemic sclerosis. Laboratory comments appended to results should reflect this fact.

PMID: 18305179 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]