Hi!
Generally a high ANA titre indicates an autoimmune disease (SLE, Sjögren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune hepatitis, scleroderma, polymyositis, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, dermatomyositis, primary biliary cirrhosis, Addison disease, Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, and type 1 diabetes mellitus). Mixed connective tissue disorders also cause a high ANA. What is important is the pattern of ANA staining: homogenous, speckled, or nucleolar. Depending on the pattern of ANA staining, other antibody tests will have to be done. The pattern of staining itself is quite diagnostic (for eg in SLE a homogenous pattern is seen, nucleolar pattern in scleroderma and speckled pattern in ITP and mixed connective tissue disorder and in lupus). Discuss this with your doctor and get yourself further examined in this line. Take care!
Dr. Mathur,
My initial testing showed ANA Antibodies of 15 with the IU/ml method of reporting -- Titer method would be 1:80 - 1:320. ANA Pattern says: Homogenous; speckled pattern also detected. Doctor seems to think it is not auto-immune and further testing not needed. Do you agree?