What Causes Elevated Anti-Nuclear Antibody ANA Level?

Elevated anti-nuclear antibody ANA level can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'needs attention' to 'very serious'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.

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Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose elevated anti-nuclear antibody ANA level, we could:

Research the topic
Find a doctor with the time
Use a diagnostic computer system.

The process is the same, whichever method is used.

Step 1: List all Possible Causes

We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "elevated anti-nuclear antibody ANA level" as a symptom. Here are four possibilities:

Sjogren's Syndrome
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Lupus (SLE)

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

fatigue after slight exertion

lupus

minor inflamed cuticles

history of tender muscles

dry eyes

frequent unexplained fevers

severe stiff neck

morning stiffness lasting hours

non-vaginal candidiasis

pitted nails

very dry eyes

frequent morning stiffness

... and more than 30 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of elevated anti-nuclear antibody ANA level:

Cause	Probability	Status
Rheumatoid Arthritis	97%	Confirm
Sjogren's Syndrome	14%	Unlikely
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis	0%	Ruled out
Lupus (SLE)	0%	Ruled out

* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

If you indicate having had recent lab tests, The Analyst™ will ask further questions including this one:

Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA). Unit: Titre

Possible responses:

→ Don't know
→ Under 1:40 (normal)
→ 1:40 to 1:100
→ 1:101 to 1:500
→ Over 1:500

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate normal ANA levels, mildly elevated ANA levels, elevated ANA levels or highly elevated ANA levels, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:

Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis

Lupus, SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)

Any value less than 40 is considered a normal ANA level and called a negative test result. Normal levels of ANA virtually rule out active SLE. [Med Clin North Am 81(1): pp.113-28, Jan. 1997]

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sjogren's Syndrome

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