Generic antinuclear antibodies are found in more than 95% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Which pattern of staining seen on tissue culture cells in the indirect antibody immunofluorescence microscopy test signifies the presence of these antibodies?

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Generic antinuclear antibodies (ANA) reacting with chromatin, histones, and occasionally double-stranded DNA give a diffuse nuclear staining pattern. Rim (or peripheral) staining is due to antibodies to double-stranded DNA. A speckled pattern is typical of antibodies to non-DNA nuclear components, including the Sm-antigen, which is the most specific marker of systemic lupus erythematosus. A nucleolar pattern reflects the presence of antibodies to nucleolar RNA. Cytoplasmic staining is nonspecific and unrelated to antinuclear antibodies.

Generic Antinuclear Antibodies Are Found in More Than 95% of Patients