What does it mean to have a homogeneous and speckled ANA pattern?
Homogenous (diffuse) pattern suggests SLE or other connective tissue diseases. Speckled pattern correlates with antibody to nuclear antigens extractable by saline; it is found in many disease states, including SLE and scleroderma.
Can you have both speckled and homogeneous ANA?
Background/Purpose: A Mixed Speckled/Homogeneous (MS/H) pattern is the single most common ANA pattern identified in our community hospital patient population, often in very high titers, and has been associated with a “Dense Fine Speckled” anti-DFS70 ENA specificity.
What does it mean to have a speckled ANA pattern?
Speckled: Fine and coarse speckles of ANA staining are seen throughout the nucleus. This pattern is more commonly associated with antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens. This pattern can be associated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Sjögren’s syndrome, Systemic Sclerosis, Polymyositis, and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
Can you have a speckled ANA and not have an autoimmune disease?
The speckled pattern is seen in many conditions and in people who do not have any autoimmune disease. These patterns are determined by technical experts who routinely interpret the tests.
What diseases have a homogeneous ANA pattern?
How is the test reported?
| ANA pattern | Associated rheumatic disease |
|---|---|
| Homogeneous | Systemic lupus erythematosus Mixed connective tissue disease Drug induced lupus Juvenile idiopathic arthritis |
| Speckled | Systemic lupus erythematosus Sjögren’s syndrome Polymyositis/dermatomyositis Systemic sclerosis/scleroderma |
Does speckled ANA mean lupus?
Peripheral or rim (only the outline of the nucleus is seen, like a halo)—not common, almost always indicates lupus. Speckled (tiny dots throughout the nucleus)—a common pattern, not specific, but often indicating anti-Sm or anti-RNP antibodies (see below) found in lupus or mixed connective tissue disease.
What does an ANA titer of 1 160 speckled mean?
We suggest that ANA tests showing speckled pattern should be at a 1:160 titer or higher to be considered positive; other patterns such as homogeneous, peripheral, or centromeric might be considered positive even at low titers (
Can you have a speckled ANA and not have lupus?
A positive ANA does not by itself diagnose lupus since about 10% of normal people and many people with other autoimmune diseases, such as thyroid disease, also have positive tests, but usually less strongly positive. Once positive, an ANA mostly stays positive, so need not be repeated.
What ANA pattern is most common in lupus?
The pattern of the ANA test can give information about the type of autoimmune disease present and the appropriate treatment program. A homogenous (diffuse) pattern appears as total nuclear fluorescence and is common in people with systemic lupus.