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Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA)
About this test
An antinuclear antibody (ANA) test measures the amount and pattern of antibodies in your blood that work against your own body (autoimmune reaction).
The body's
immune system normally attacks and destroys foreign
substances such as bacteria and viruses. But in disorders known as
autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks and
destroys the body's normal tissues. When a person has an autoimmune disease,
the immune system 
produces antibodies that attach to the
body's own cells as though they were foreign substances, often causing them to
be damaged or destroyed.
Rheumatoid arthritis and
systemic lupus erythematosus are examples of
autoimmune diseases.
An ANA test is used along with your symptoms, physical examination, and other tests to find an autoimmune disease.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: June 11, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine | |
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