Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Risk of systemic lupus erythematosus elevated years after testing positive for antinuclear antibodies: national cohort study in Denmark
Authors' conclusion
ANA positivity was associated with markedly elevated short-term and sustained long-term SLE risk, particularly in younger adults and individuals with high-intensity homogeneous or speckled patterns.
Study context
- Population
- ANA-tested, SLE-free individuals in Denmark, 2000–2017647 developed SLE
- Participants
- 342,777 participants
- Exposure
- ANA positive vs ANA negative
- Outcome
- Long-term risk of SLE following ANA positivity
Methodological detailsnational laboratory and health registers, Cox models, Kaplan-Meier methods
- National laboratory and health registers
- Cox models
- Kaplan-Meier methods
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
SLE risk following ANA positivity
Hazard ratio (95% CI)
ANA-CTDANA-CTD positivity; highest risk
67.3(45.8–99.0)
SDT-ANASDT-ANA positivity
18.0(14.4–22.5)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
SLE by SDT-ANA pattern
| HR | |
|---|---|
| Homogeneous SDT-ANA pattern | 15.7 |
| Speckled SDT-ANA pattern | 7.90 |
5-year cumulative incidence of SLE in younger individuals (18-30 years) (subgroup)
- SLE by SDT-ANA pattern — 5-year cumulative incidence, homogeneous pattern, strongly positive intensity (up to)
- 9.18%
- SLE by SDT-ANA pattern — 5-year cumulative incidence, speckled pattern, strongly positive intensity (up to)
- 5.29%
SLE by SDT-ANA pattern
- Risk highest within the first year, but remained elevated beyond 5 years for homogeneous and speckled patterns
Original publication
Risk of systemic lupus erythematosus elevated years after testing positive for antinuclear antibodies: national cohort study in Denmark. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 26 April 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →