Antibody Tests for Lupus
Antibody Tests for LupusSkip to the navigationTopic OverviewAntibody tests are a set of blood tests that check for
specific
antibodies to help clarify the diagnosis of
lupus. They include: - Anti-dsDNA (antibodies to
DNA).
- Antinuclear antibody (ANA)
- Anti-RNP.
- Anti-Smith (Sm).
- Anti-SS-A (also called Ro).
- Anti-SS-B
(also called La).
These antibody tests are often positive in lupus and can
provide support for a diagnosis if the clinical criteria are unclear or if the
ANA test is negative but lupus is strongly suspected. - Anti-SS-A (Ro) and anti-SS-B (La) antibodies are
not specific for lupus and are found commonly in
Sjögren's syndrome. But these tests are useful in
helping women with lupus who are considering pregnancy. If a woman who has
these antibodies becomes pregnant, she may need more careful monitoring of the
fetus, since these antibodies are associated with a higher risk of the baby
being born with neonatal lupus syndrome or a heart defect called congenital
heart block.
- High titers of anti-dsDNA
are usually seen only in people who have lupus.
- A positive anti-Sm test is a specific marker for lupus.
Anti-dsDNA tests can be repeated at intervals to monitor how
the disease is progressing. ReferencesOther Works Consulted- Crow MK (2016). Systemic lupus erythematosus. In L Goldman, A Shafer, eds., Goldman-Cecil Medicine, 24th ed., vol. 2, pp. 1769-1777. Philadelphia: Saunders.
- Hahn BH (2015). Systemic lupus erythematosus. In DL Kasper et al., eds., Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 19th ed., vol. 2, pp. 2124-2134. New York: McGraw-Hill Education.
CreditsByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerAnne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical ReviewerNancy Ann Shadick, MD, MPH - Internal Medicine, Rheumatology Current as ofOctober 31, 2016 Current as of:
October 31, 2016 Last modified on: 8 September 2017
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