Introduction:

Antinuclear antibodies are widely used in medical practice as autoimmunity markers and in the diagnosis of autoimmune diseases. However, these antibodies are the expression of other disorders beyond collagenopathies and may even be present in the apparently healthy population without representing a risk to their health in the future.

Objective:

To determine the prevalence of antinuclear antibodies in apparently healthy residents of the Hospital de Clínicas, San Lorenzo, in 2021.

Material and methods:

A descriptive, prospective and cross-sectional study was carried out in 150 apparently healthy resident physicians at the Hospital de Clínicas in the city of San Lorenzo, Paraguay, from June to September 2021. Immunoglobulin G-type antinuclear antibodies were determined using Indirect immunofluorescence in HEp-2 cells.

Results:

The prevalence of antinuclear antibodies was 11.3%. Most of the subjects with positive results were women (76.5%, p <0.05). The most frequent titrations were 1:80 and 1:160 equally (35.3% each) and among the reactive subjects the nuclear dense fine speckled pattern (AC2) was the most prevalent (52.9%).

Conclusion:

The prevalence of nuclear antibodies was 11.3%, the highest frequency was seen in women, the most common titers were 1:80 and 1: 160 and the most common pattern was the nuclear dense fine speckled.

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