Biomaterial Database

Clinical significance of antinuclear antibodies in systemic rheumatic diseases. 1996

M Hietarinta, and O Lassila

Turku Immunology Centre, Department of Medicine and Medical Microbiology, Turku University, Finland.

Autoantibodies directed to intracellular antigens can be detected in many systemic rheumatic diseases. In this review, we discuss the clinical significance of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Slögren's syndrome, scleroderma and polymyositis/dermatomyositis, the immunogenetic factors associated with these four autoimmune diseases, and the possible role of autoantibodies in the etiopathogenesis of autoimmune disease. The antibodies associated with systemic rheumatic diseases serve as important tools in the initial diagnosis, and they are also useful in the evaluation of prognosis. However, for correct conclusions, the autoantibody findings should be carefully considered and interpreted in clinical context.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008180	Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic	A chronic, relapsing, inflammatory, and often febrile multisystemic disorder of connective tissue, characterized principally by involvement of the skin, joints, kidneys, and serosal membranes. It is of unknown etiology, but is thought to represent a failure of the regulatory mechanisms of the autoimmune system. The disease is marked by a wide range of system dysfunctions, an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and the formation of LE cells in the blood or bone marrow.	Libman-Sacks Disease,Lupus Erythematosus Disseminatus,Systemic Lupus Erythematosus,Disease, Libman-Sacks,Libman Sacks Disease
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000974	Antibodies, Antinuclear	Autoantibodies directed against various nuclear antigens including DNA, RNA, histones, acidic nuclear proteins, or complexes of these molecular elements. Antinuclear antibodies are found in systemic autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren's syndrome, scleroderma, polymyositis, and mixed connective tissue disease.	Anti-DNA Antibodies,Antibodies, Anti-DNA,Antinuclear Antibodies,Antinuclear Autoantibodies,Antinuclear Autoantibody,Antinuclear Factors,Antinuclear Antibody,Antinuclear Factor,Anti DNA Antibodies,Antibody, Antinuclear,Autoantibody, Antinuclear,Factor, Antinuclear
D012216	Rheumatic Diseases	Disorders of connective tissue, especially the joints and related structures, characterized by inflammation, degeneration, or metabolic derangement.	Rheumatism,Disease, Rheumatic,Diseases, Rheumatic,Rheumatic Disease
D012595	Scleroderma, Systemic	A chronic multi-system disorder of CONNECTIVE TISSUE. It is characterized by SCLEROSIS in the SKIN, the LUNGS, the HEART, the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT, the KIDNEYS, and the MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM. Other important features include diseased small BLOOD VESSELS and AUTOANTIBODIES. The disorder is named for its most prominent feature (hard skin), and classified into subsets by the extent of skin thickening: LIMITED SCLERODERMA and DIFFUSE SCLERODERMA.	Sclerosis, Systemic,Systemic Scleroderma,Systemic Sclerosis
D012859	Sjogren's Syndrome	Chronic inflammatory and autoimmune disease in which the salivary and lacrimal glands undergo progressive destruction by lymphocytes and plasma cells resulting in decreased production of saliva and tears. The primary form, often called sicca syndrome, involves both KERATOCONJUNCTIVITIS SICCA and XEROSTOMIA. The secondary form includes, in addition, the presence of a connective tissue disease, usually rheumatoid arthritis.	Sicca Syndrome,Sjogren Syndrome,Sjogrens Syndrome,Syndrome, Sicca,Syndrome, Sjogren's
D017285	Polymyositis	Diseases characterized by inflammation involving multiple muscles. This may occur as an acute or chronic condition associated with medication toxicity (DRUG TOXICITY); CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASES; infections; malignant NEOPLASMS; and other disorders. The term polymyositis is frequently used to refer to a specific clinical entity characterized by subacute or slowly progressing symmetrical weakness primarily affecting the proximal limb and trunk muscles. The illness may occur at any age, but is most frequent in the fourth to sixth decade of life. Weakness of pharyngeal and laryngeal muscles, interstitial lung disease, and inflammation of the myocardium may also occur. Muscle biopsy reveals widespread destruction of segments of muscle fibers and an inflammatory cellular response. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp1404-9)	Myositis, Multiple,Polymyositis Ossificans,Polymyositis, Idiopathic,Idiopathic Polymyositides,Idiopathic Polymyositis,Multiple Myositis,Myositides, Multiple,Ossificans, Polymyositis,Polymyositides,Polymyositides, Idiopathic