PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - S Khan AU - A Alvi AU - S Holding AU - M L Kemp AU - D Raine AU - P C Doré AU - W A C Sewell TI - The clinical significance of antinucleolar antibodies AID - 10.1136/jcp.2007.049692 DP - 2008 Mar 01 TA - Journal of Clinical Pathology PG - 283--286 VI - 61 IP - 3 4099 - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/61/3/283.short 4100 - http://jcp.bmj.com/content/61/3/283.full SO - J Clin Pathol2008 Mar 01; 61 AB - Background: The importance of antinucleolar antibodies seen by indirect immunofluorescence on HEp-2 cells, although associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc), in unselected patients is unknown.Aims: To determine the true clinical significance of antinucleolar antibodies in an unselected patient population.Methods: Antinucleolar antibody (ANoA) positive samples were identified in the immunology laboratory during routine autoimmune screening tests; case notes were reviewed using a standard proforma.Results: 104 patients with ANoA were identified and ANoA+ samples were subclassified into homogeneous, clumpy and speckled antinucleolar types. SSc was evident in only two (1.8%) patients. Other connective tissue diseases were identified in 33 patients (32%); 22 patients (21%) had evidence of various malignancies. Both disordered liver function and anaemia were seen in 22 patients and were the commonest laboratory abnormalities.Conclusions: Neither the presence nor subtype of ANoA is specific for systemic sclerosis. Laboratory comments appended to results should reflect this fact.