Antinuclear antibodies are antibodies that recognize the nuclear components of each cell, and their positivity is often indicative of an autoimmune disease, but they can also be seen in certain neoplastic diseases or in normal elderly people.
Antinuclear antibodies are a group of autoantibodies produced against DNA, RNA, proteins or molecular complexes of these substances in the nucleus of cells. Each antinuclear antibody can be differentiated by the properties of the individual molecules in its nucleus.
Antinuclear antibodies can be categorized as anti-DNA antibodies, anti-nucleolus antibodies, anti-histone antibodies, and anti-non-histone antibodies, and are mainly found in IgG, but can also be found in IgM, IgA, and IgD. Positive antinuclear antibodies need to be considered for autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and dry syndrome, but can also be seen in certain tumor diseases or normal elderly.
Different components of antinuclear antibodies have different clinical significance and different diagnostic specificity. Therefore, it is recommended that patients with positive antinuclear antibodies should consult the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology in a timely manner, and under the guidance of the doctor to carry out the appropriate tests to clarify the diagnosis and treatment.