What does it mean to have a positive RNP antibody?
A positive result for RNP antibodies is consistent with a connective tissue disease.
What is considered a high RNP result?
A negative antinuclear ribonucleoprotein (anti-RNP) antibody result is defined as less than 20 U based on enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). A borderline result is defined as 20-25 U. A positive result is defined as more than 26 U.
Is lupus a connective tissue disease?
Connective tissue diseases include autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma and lupus.
Can you have lupus and mixed connective tissue disease?
Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) has signs and symptoms of a combination of disorders — primarily lupus, scleroderma, and polymyositis. Many people with this uncommon disease also have Sjogren’s syndrome. For this reason, MCTD is sometimes called an overlap disease.
What do Ribonucleoproteins do?
A ribonucleoprotein (RNP) is a complex of ribonucleic acid and RNA-binding protein. These complexes play an integral part in a number of important biological functions that include transcription, translation and regulating gene expression and regulating the metabolism of RNA.
How long can you live with mixed connective tissue disease?
Since MCTD is comprised of a number of connective tissue disorders, there are many different possible outcomes, depending on the organs affected, the degree of inflammation, and how quickly the disease progresses. With proper treatment, 80% of people survive at least 10 years after diagnosis.
What is the life expectancy of someone with connective tissue disease?
The overall 10-year survival rate of the disease is about 80%. Some people have symptom-free periods lasting for many years with no treatment. Despite treatment, the disease gets worse in about 13% of people and can cause potentially fatal complications in six to 12 years.
What does a positive RNP antibody test result indicate?
Interpretation. A positive result for RNP antibodies is consistent with a connective tissue disease. Although strongly associated with connective tissue diseases, RNP antibodies are not considered a “marker” for any particular disease except in the following situation: when found in isolation…
What happens if your RNP test comes back normal?
The antibodies will either be present or they will not be present. If the results come back as normal, then there is another explanation for the bothersome symptoms that are being experienced. There may also be a false positive result from the RNP blood test for a variety of different reasons.
Can there be a false positive RNP blood test?
There may also be a false positive result from the RNP blood test for a variety of different reasons. Because of this, it is not uncommon for a medical provider to order a second blood test just to confirm the results from the first one.
What is the prevalence of RNP antibodies in lupus?
Antibodies to RNP occur in approximately 50% of patients with lupus erythematosus (LE) and in patients with other connective tissue diseases, notably mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). MCTD is characterized by high levels of RNP antibodies without detectable Sm (Smith) or double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibodies.