Question
When I have blood test done I have really high anti-nuclear antibodies. What relationship does this have with autoimmune disease? I was diagnosed in 1990 with Fibromyalgia. Is this possibly connected?
Answer
Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) is associated with systemic lupus, other rheumatic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, polymyositis, etc) and other autoimmune diseases such as thyroid disease. However, ANA can be positive in perfectly healthy individuals, as often as 15%. ANA are generally not positive in fibromyalgia.
