To monitor the course of an autoimmune disorder. A sample of your blood is drawn and analyzed for the presence of particular antibodies. Other drugs may lead to the production of other antibodies. ANAs may be found in the blood of healthy people aged 60 or older or occasionally in some younger people. Anti-DNA antibody , which may be present in lupus but is usually not found in other autoimmune diseases.
Levels generally decrease when treatment of lupus is successful.
Antiphospholipid antibody , which may be found in lupus and certain other conditions. Associated with clots and miscarriages. Anti-smooth muscle antibody , which may be present in chronic active hepatitis. Testing helps distinguish between this type of hepatitis and other forms of liver disease. There's no risk.