ABSTRACT
Objective To study the expression characteristics of serum antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in lymphoma patients as well as their target antigens in cells, and to explore the possible relationship between lymphoma and ANA. Methods Indirect immunofluorescence was used to detect the ANA expression level in 100 cases of lymphoma and 200 population-based controls. Then the relationship between lymphoma and ANA was investigated by means of 1:2 matched with logistic regression models. Results The positive rate of ANA in lymphoma patients was higher than that in the control group [28 % (28/100) vs. 7 % (14/200)], with a statistical difference (OR= 13.66, 95 %CI 4.10-45.57, P< 0.01). The positive rate of ANA in females was higher than that in males, and the positive rate of ANA became higher with age. Lymphoma group had more complex fluorescence pattern and wider target antigen spectrum compared with the control group. Conclusions Detection of ANA in lymphoma may help in the early diagnosis,prognosis and treatment. ANA target antigen spectra of lymphoma patients are different from those in healthy people as well as patients with autoimmune disease. Further efforts should be made to identify the target antigens as well as their biological roles and clinical significances.