an·ti·nu·cle·ar antibody ( n t -n  kl- r, nt -)n. Abbr. ANA An antibody that attacks cell nuclei. |
antinuclear antibody (ANA)
[-no̅o̅′klē·ər]
an autoantibody directed against nuclear antigens. Antinuclear antibodies are found in the blood serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's syndrome, polymyositis, scleroderma, Raynaud's disease, mixed connective tissue disease, and a number of nonrheumatic disorders ranging from lymphomas, leukemias, primary biliary cirrhosis, thyroiditis, chronic active hepatitis, and adverse drug reactions. The antibodies are often detected with an immunofluorescent assay technique.
antinuclear antibody,
n an autoantibody that reacts with nuclear material and is present in indivi-duals with autoimmune disorders; detectable by immunoflourescent assay technique.
antibody (an´tibodē),
n 1. a specific substance that is produced by an animal as a reaction to the presence of an antigen and that reacts specifically with an antigen in some observable way.
n 2. an immunoglobulin (preferred term), essential to the immune system, produced by lymphoid tissue in response to bacteria, viruses, or other antigenic substances. Each type is identified by its action, agglutinins, bacteriolysins, opsonins, and precipitins. See also immunoglobulins.
n 2. an immunoglobulin (preferred term), essential to the immune system, produced by lymphoid tissue in response to bacteria, viruses, or other antigenic substances. Each type is identified by its action, agglutinins, bacteriolysins, opsonins, and precipitins. See also immunoglobulins.
antibody, antinuclear,
n an antibody having an affinity for the cell nuclei.
antibody formation,
n the response of the lymphatic system to the presence of foreign substances in the body such as bacteria, viruses, food substances, pollens, and other antigens.
antibody, monoclonal
n an antibody produced by a clone or genetically homogeneous population of hybrid cells.
antibody, specificity,
n the lymphatic system produces antibodies specific to each antigen. Viruses have the capacity to alter an antigen's genetic makeup, thereby creating a mutant antigen that requires new antibodies to combat it.
antinuclear antibody
see antinuclear antibody.
antinuclear antibody
ANA Immunology Any of a number of circulating antibodies that are directed against various antigens in the nucleus, including histone, double- and single-stranded DNA, and ribonucleoprotein; ANAs are often present in
serum of Pts with SLE and other connective tissue diseases. See Speckled pattern.
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