Definitions for "Antinuclear antibodies"
A specific antibody or protein, sometimes found in rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Antibodies that are in the bloodstream of people who have connective tissue diseases or certain autoimmune disorders.
Antinuclear antibodies react against normal components of the cell nucleus. The may be present in a number of immunologic diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and certain collagen diseases, and in about 1% of normal individuals. If you have systemic lupus erythematosus, it can be transmitted through the placenta to the baby, resulting in heart problems.