Does the ANA or anti-cytoplasmic antibody pattern have any value?
There is often a correlation between the ANA pattern and the presence of anti-DNA and ENA antibodies. Identification of the staining pattern is useful for the laboratory because it may influence the search for the most appropriate antibodies by ENA profile or other more specific tests.. For example, in the presence of a cytoplasmic or nuclear dot type of fluorescence, instead of the classical anti ENA panel, a laboratory assay that includes the cytoplasmic antigens Jo-1, M2/PDC, ribosomal P, EEA1, GWB or the Sp-100 antigens, is indicated. In the presence of a homogenous pattern, it may be indicated to search for dsDNA, histone or chromatin antibodies. Anti-nucleolar patterns remain one of the main challenges for the clinical laboratory because it is difficult using current technologies to identify the target antigen (fibrillarin, B23, PM/SCl, Pol I/III and others). However, when an anti-centromere pattern is present, confirmation is usually not necessary.
