About Antinuclear Antibodies Pattern
The ANA pattern describes the distribution of fluorescence seen under the microscope when the test is performed, and different patterns suggest different underlying autoimmune conditions. A homogeneous pattern is most common in lupus; a speckled pattern is associated with mixed connective tissue disease and Sjögren's syndrome; a centromere pattern is characteristic of limited scleroderma (CREST syndrome); a nucleolar pattern points to diffuse scleroderma. The pattern guides which specific antibody follow-up tests to order.