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Walk the Even Hospital Database by book and chapter — the raw source passages that ground Ask, DDx, and the rest.
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The antinuclear antibody (ANA) is a defining feature of autoimmune connective tissue disease. ANAs are a class of antibodies that bind to cellular components in the nucleus, including proteins, DNA, RNA, and nucleic acid-protein complexes.[1] First described in 1948, ANA testing has been the cornerstone of diagnosis for autoimmune connective tissue diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren syndrome, and polymyositis/dermatomyositis.[2] Although 20% to 30% of the general population has detectable ANA titers, higher titers are characteristic of individuals with connective tissue disorders.[3] Thus, the sensitivity and specificity of the methods used to detect ANAs are crucial to diagnosis.