Analysis of the Antinuclear Antibodies in Rheumatoid Arthritis / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to evaluate the prevalence, titer and patterns of antinuclear antibody (ANA) expression, and its clinical significance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: We divided 259 patients with seropositive RA into ANA positive and negative groups and compared the two groups with multiple clinical variables. RESULTS: 47.5% of patients with seropositive RA expressed ANA. Most of the patterns of ANA were homogenous (52.8%) and speckled (36.6%). Most frequently expressed anti-extractable nuclear antigen (ENA) antibody was anti-Ro antibody (34.1%). Patients in the ANA positive group had higher frequency of anemia, lower hemoglobin concentration, more hot joint area on radionuclide whole body bone scan, and lower T-score on bone mineral density (BMD) than patients in the ANA negative group. But other clinical parameters which reflect disease activity and systemic involvement were not different significantly between the two groups. Most patients expressed lower ANA (63.1%). Patients with high ANA titer were older and had lower hemoglobin concentration than patients with lower ANA titer. CONCLUSIONS: Almost the half of seropositive RA patients expressed ANA. Most of them had homogenous and speckled ANA pattern. Anti-Ro antibody was most frequent anti-ENA antibody. Except anemia, hot joint area in whole body bone scan, and BMD, the expression of ANA in patients with RA can not reflect disease activity and systemic involvement accurately.