Antinuclear antibodies: a simplified classification of the nuclear immunofluorescent patterns

Abstract

The key to a simplified classification of the human nuclear immunofluorescent patterns is to separate out only 2 patients, the speckled and nucleolar, from the nonhomogeneous particulate group (showing stained particles). There are 6 categories divided into 2 major groups: nonparticulate and particulate. The nonparticulate group consists of the peripheral, homogeneous and leukocyte specific patterns. The particulate group is divided into nucleolar, speckled and other particulates. The major diagnostic and prognostic values of the test are retained by the simple expedient of separating out only 2 morphologically distinct and diagnostically important patterns from the particulate group, the nucleolar and speckled patterns, seen mainly in scleroderma but not in lupus erythematosus.