{"id":5494,"date":"2019-03-29T07:00:03","date_gmt":"2019-03-29T14:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lupusla.org\/?p=5494"},"modified":"2019-05-03T22:08:55","modified_gmt":"2019-05-04T05:08:55","slug":"ana-test-for-lupus-diagnosis-what-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.mab.marketing\/lupusla\/ana-test-for-lupus-diagnosis-what-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"ANA Test for Lupus Diagnosis: What You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n
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Before the diagnosis of lupus, doctors look at lab tests, symptom records, and history of the disease in the family. Of course, the process for diagnosing the disease can be a long and challenging one. One of the tests conducted is the antinuclear antibodies (ANA) test.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The ANA test is essential in lupus diagnosis as it provides insight into the immune system\u2019s functioning by quantifying the presence of certain proteins in the blood.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

In 2018, the latest criteria for confirming the presence of the disease in individuals was created by the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). The initial requirement of the criteria for lupus diagnosis is a positive ANA test with a titer of at least 80.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The numerical value of the titer refers to the ratio of blood serum being evaluated to a dilution agent. In the case of a titer of 80, it means that there is a part of blood serum for every 80 parts of dilution. The blood sample needs to have more antibodies when the dilution is higher to get a positive test result.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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Understanding Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA)<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Before we discuss antinuclear antibodies (ANA), we will first talk about antibodies. Antibodies are proteins created by the immune system that help the body identify and combat dangerous substances like viruses and bacteria by prompting the immune system to attack them. Antibodies are like guardians that defend the body from harmful, foreign elements.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

However, there are times that these guardians of the body target healthy body tissues and cells<\/a>. This process is called an autoimmune response, and the antibodies that attack the beneficial proteins in the cells\u2019 nuclei are known as antinuclear antibodies (ANA).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

ANAs are like treacherous guardians that misrecognize and mistakenly attack the cells they\u2019re supposed to ignore. Most people have some antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) in them, but having a high number of ANAs makes a person more prone to developing an autoimmune disease like lupus.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Symptoms That Prompt an ANA Test<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

By and large, an antinuclear antibodies (ANA) test is demanded when a person shows signs of systemic autoimmune disease. The symptoms mentioned below are what may cause a physician to order an ANA test.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n