- With Mayo Clinic rheumatologist
April Chang-Miller, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
April Chang-Miller, M.D.
April Chang-Miller, M.D.
Dr. April Chang-Miller is board certified in internal medicine and rheumatology and is a consultant in the Division of Rheumatology and Internal Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Arizona.
Dr. Chang-Miller's primary field is rheumatology with special interests in inflammatory joint diseases called seronegative spondyloarthropathies such as ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis. She also cares for patients with rheumatoid arthritis and polymyalgia rheumatica.
The New York City native is a graduate of the Yale University School of Medicine and had been with Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., between 1991 and 2002 when she relocated to Mayo Clinic, Arizona. She is a fellow in the American College of Rheumatology and has been on the board of directors of the Arthritis Foundation North Central Chapter.
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Question
Antinuclear antibody (ANA) test: Can it diagnose lupus?
Can an antinuclear antibody test diagnose lupus?
Answer
from April Chang-Miller, M.D.
An antinuclear antibody (ANA) test is often useful in the evaluation of connective tissue diseases, such as lupus. This blood test detects the presence of certain antibodies made by your immune system. People with lupus typically test positive for antinuclear antibodies. However, a positive ANA blood test doesn't necessarily mean you have lupus. Other conditions may cause a positive antinuclear antibody test, including:
- Scleroderma
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Sjogren's syndrome
- Hashimoto's thyroiditis
- Autoimmune hepatitis
- Some viral infections
- Type 1 diabetes
- Addison's disease
In addition, certain medications may cause a positive antinuclear antibody test. These include:
- Methyldopa (Aldomet)
- Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers, such as etanercept (Enbrel) and infliximab (Remicade)
If you have a positive antinuclear antibody test, further testing is needed to establish a specific diagnosis. Additional tests to diagnose lupus may include blood counts, kidney and liver assessments, urinalysis, chest X-ray, electrocardiogram (ECG), erythrocyte sedimentation rate test, and other antibody tests that are more specific for lupus.
