ENA SCREEN what is it? along with a Vitamin E screen?

  Can you tell me what these tests are and what they tell.
  What is an ENA SCREEN and what information does it provide.
  What does Vitamin E have to do with Neuropathy?
  Diagnosis Polysensory N. recently these tests were ordered? Any idea
  WHY?

[CCF Neuro MD MJD]

An Anti-ENA panel is a series of antibodies that are produced by the immune system against proteins in one's own body.  Each of the antibodies checked are nonspecific but can be seen in some autoimmune diseases like Lupus and Sjogren's Syndrome.  Although these "collagen vascular diseases" tend to most commonly affect other systems of the body like the joints or skin, neuropathy can be seen less commonly.  Often patients will present with other symptoms before a neuropathy develops.  But in unknown cases of neuropathy, often a search for any possibilities is initiated.
Vitamin E deficiency causes a Neuropathy which affects vibration and posiiton sense most profoundly (rather than pain and temperature) causing unsteadiness when walking.  But often other signs are present .because  Vit. E deficiency also affects other systems in the brain and spinal cord. Eye movements can be affected.  Often there is a reason why Vitamin E is deficient such as problems with absorbing it in the gut.  In adults, it is a very uncommon cause of neuropathy, but it is potentially treatable.   Again, though, after the common causes have been evaluated, less common causes are searched for; unfortunately  at the point when these are searched for,it is often a fruitless search.

[naomijolene]

A related discussion, sle was started.