An extractable nuclear antigen (ENA) panel detects the presence of autoantibodies in the blood that react with proteins in the cell nucleus. These proteins are known as “extractable” because they can be removed from cell nuclei using saline and represent six main proteins (Ro, La, Sm, RNP, Scl-70 and Jo1).
What does an ENA blood test show?
An ENA (Extractable Nuclear Antigen Antibodies) panel detects the presence of one or more specific autoantibodies in the blood. Autoantibodies are produced when a person's immune system mistakenly targets and attacks the body's own tissues.
What are the three types of ENA?
ENA
- anti-Sm (for SLE)
- anti-RNP (for MCTD)
- anti-La/anti-SS-B (for Sjögren's)
- anti-Ro/anti-SS-A(for Sjögren's)
- anti-Scl70 (for Scleroderma)
- anti-Jo (for Dermatomyositis)
