Laboratory Medicine ›› 2025, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (6): 583-591.DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-8640.2025.06.012

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Retrospective analysis of anti-nuclear antibody determination results in 167 202 clinical specimens

WANG Xiaobo   

  1. Hangzhou Adicon Clinical Laboratories Inc.,Hangzhou 310030,Zhejiang,China
  • Received:2024-10-18 Revised:2025-01-25 Online:2025-06-30 Published:2025-07-01

Abstract:

Objective To conduct a large-scale analysis of the distribution of anti-nuclear antibody(ANA) fluorescence patterns,antibody titers and specific ANA profiles,and to provide a reference for health management and disease diagnosis and treatment of potential autoimmune disease(AID). Methods A retrospective analysis was performed on 167 202 individuals for ANA determination,71 723 individuals for 15 specific ANA profiles(referred to as ANA-15)and 65 493 individuals for 7 specific ANA profiles(referred to as ANA-7)at Hangzhou Adicon Clinical Laboratories Inc. from January 2022 to May 2023. Indirect immunofluorescence assay(IFA)was used to determine ANA,and line immunoassay(LIA)was used to determine specific ANA profiles. Statistics was performed on ANA fluorescence pattern,antibody titer,positive rate,gender,age characteristics and the difference between different quarters. Results The overall positive rates for ANA,ANA-15 and ANA-7 were 30.6%,12.9% and 8.2%,respectively. The ANA positive rate showed an increasing trend with age(P<0.01),while there was no statistical significance in the positive rates of ANA-15 and ANA-7 among different age groups(P>0.05). The highest ANA positive rate was found in females ≥81 years old(47.3%),and the highest positive rates for both ANA-15 and ANA-7 were found in females with 41-50 years old (18.5% and 12.6%,respectively). The common fluorescence patterns for ANA positive results were speckled(AC-4,AC-5)(56.9%),cytoplasmic speckled(AC-19,AC-20)(14.1%)and dense fine speckled(AC-2)(10.7%). ANA positivity was mainly low titer(74.3%),with medium and high titers accounting for 8.6% and 17.1%,respectively. The common specific antibodies for ANA-15 and ANA-7 positivities were anti-Ro52 antibodies,anti-Sjögren's syndrome A(SS-A)antibodies and anti-Smith(Sm)antibodies. There was no statistical significance in the positive rates of ANA,ANA-15 and ANA-7 between different seasons(P>0.05). Conclusions ANA,ANA-15 and ANA-7 have certain positive rates in individuals of different genders and ages,with slightly higher positive rates in females than males. Middle-aged and elderly populations,especially middle-aged and elderly females,should pay attention to the risk of developing AID.

Key words: Anti-nuclear antibody, Indirect immunofluorescence, Anti-nuclear antibody profile, Line immunoassay, Autoimmune disease

CLC Number: