ANAs (Anti-Nuclear Antibodies)

Antibodies are the elements of our blood that protect us from any foreign invaders, such as viruses or bacteria. Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) are types of antibodies that are able to combine themselves with cells by binding with the cell nucleus. When people have ANAs in their blood, it can suggest that the patient’s immune system may attack its own tissues, otherwise known as autoimmunity.

The Test for ANAs

The test for ANAs was developed in the 1950s and it makes use of a blood sample. The antibodies will be tested to determine whether they react with the nucleus of cells or not. The antibodies are detected using fluorescence techniques, which is why the test for ANAs is also sometimes called ‘fluorescent antinuclear antibody test’ or FANA. This test is used to detect autoimmune diseases.

Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases are disorders that relate to the immune system. They are characterized by the abnormal production of antibodies which attack the body, and usually feature an inflammation to certain tissues within the body. ANAs are mostly found in patients with autoimmune diseases but may also be found in patients who don’t have conditions relating to an autoimmune disease. This can include chronic infections or even cancer.

Autoimmune diseases can include Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, systemic lupus erythematosus, , juvenile diabetes mellitus, glomerulonephritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, vitiligo, rheumatoid arthritis, polymyositis, scleroderma, Addison disease, pernicious anemia, and pulmonary fibrosis.

Other Reasons for the Production of ANAs

There are many medications that can cause the production of ANAs, when this happens we call it “drug-induced ANAs” and a disease may not necessarily be present. In fact ANAs where no disease is present is found in about 5% of the population.