FREQUENCY OF ANTINUCLEAR AUTOANTIBODIES AMONG HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of antinuclear autoantibodies (ANA) among healthy individuals.
Study Design: Descriptive study.
Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital, Chunian Cantt and Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Rawalpindi, from September to December 2009.
Subjects and Methods: Serum samples were collected from healthy volunteers (after informed consent) through non probability convenience sampling. Antinuclear antibodies were detected by indirect immunofluorescence. Titer of a positive sample was determined by serial dilution. Data was analyzed for frequency and percentage of positive samples.
Results: A total of 100 volunteers (50 males and 50 females) were inducted in study. Their age ranged from 2 years to 75 years. Out of these, 3 (3%) volunteers were found to be positive for ANA, though in low titers, i.e., less than 1:10.
Conclusion: Antinuclear autoantibodies are found in approximately 3% of healthy individuals. In the absence of symptoms, a low titer of ANA may not be of much significance as it may be found in healthy people as well. But in appropriate clinical settings, a positive ANA in high titer should be further investigated.