What signs indicate connective tissue disorders such as lupus?
The ANA is a blood test that is used in the evaluation of possible lupus or other connective tissue disorders. When the ANA is positive, it indicates that someone may have an autoimmune disorder, but alone it can’t make the diagnosis. The ANA profile is a series of tests consisting of an ANA and other related antibodies. This may be done if the ANA is found to be positive or possibly at the same time as the ANA. This profile helps look for diseases such as Sjögren’s syndrome, lupus and drug-induced lupus.
