Also Known As
Histone Autoantibodies
Formal Name
Antihistone Antibody
This article was last reviewed on
This article waslast modified on November 5, 2017.
At a Glance
Why Get Tested?

To help in the diagnosis and monitoring of drug-induced lupus erythematosus

When To Get Tested?

When you have symptoms associated with lupus that may be due to a drug that you are taking

Sample Required?

A blood sample drawn from a vein in your arm

Test Preparation Needed?

None

You may be able to find your test results on your laboratory's website or patient portal. However, you are currently at Lab Tests Online. You may have been directed here by your lab's website in order to provide you with background information about the test(s) you had performed. You will need to return to your lab's website or portal, or contact your healthcare practitioner in order to obtain your test results.

Lab Tests Online is an award-winning patient education website offering information on laboratory tests. The content on the site, which has been reviewed by laboratory scientists and other medical professionals, provides general explanations of what results might mean for each test listed on the site, such as what a high or low value might suggest to your healthcare practitioner about your health or medical condition.

The reference ranges for your tests can be found on your laboratory report. They are typically found to the right of your results.

If you do not have your lab report, consult your healthcare provider or the laboratory that performed the test(s) to obtain the reference range.

Laboratory test results are not meaningful by themselves. Their meaning comes from comparison to reference ranges. Reference ranges are the values expected for a healthy person. They are sometimes called "normal" values. By comparing your test results with reference values, you and your healthcare provider can see if any of your test results fall outside the range of expected values. Values that are outside expected ranges can provide clues to help identify possible conditions or diseases.

While accuracy of laboratory testing has significantly evolved over the past few decades, some lab-to-lab variability can occur due to differences in testing equipment, chemical reagents, and techniques. This is a reason why so few reference ranges are provided on this site. It is important to know that you must use the range supplied by the laboratory that performed your test to evaluate whether your results are "within normal limits."

For more information, please read the article Reference Ranges and What They Mean.

What is being tested?

Histone antibodies are autoantibodies. These are antibodies produced by a person's own immune system that target his or her own histones. Histones are proteins that are a part of chromatin, the genetic material present in the nucleus of almost all cells within the body. Because histones are found inside cells, this attack on "self" can cause symptoms throughout the body. This test detects the presence of histone antibodies in the blood.

Histone autoantibodies are one of several types of antinuclear antibodies (ANA). ANA are associated with a variety of autoimmune disorders, including lupus. The presence or absence of specific antinuclear antibodies is used to help determine which disorder a person may have.

Drugs can stimulate the production of histone antibodies in some people and can cause a type of lupus called drug-induced lupus erythematosus. Up to 95% of those with drug-induced lupus will have histone antibodies. The autoantibodies may also develop in up to 50% of those with non-drug-induced lupus and in 20% of those with other connective tissue diseases.

Many drugs have been associated with drug-induced lupus in some people. Some of the more common examples include:

  • Hydralazine
  • Isoniazid
  • Minocycline
  • Penicillamine
  • Procainamide
  • Quinidine

Others types of medications associated with drug-induced lupus include:

  • Antibiotics
  • Anti-seizure medications
  • Anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents
  • Interferon-alpha
  • Blood pressure medications
  • Methyldopa
  • Thyroid medications

How is the sample collected for testing?

A blood sample is obtained by inserting a needle into a vein in the arm.

Is any test preparation needed to ensure the quality of the sample?

No test preparation is needed.

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Common Questions
  • How is it used?

    Histone antibody testing is primarily used to support a diagnosis of drug-induced lupus erythematosus, particularly in a person who is taking one of the medications mentioned on the Test Sample tab.

    Testing is used to distinguish drug-induced lupus from other forms of lupus such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), from another autoimmune disorder, or from another cause of a person's symptoms. While it is not diagnostic of drug-induced lupus, its presence is consistent with this diagnosis.

    The test is typically ordered with or following a positive ANA test and may be ordered along with a test for anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) to help establish a diagnosis.

    If a person is diagnosed with drug-induced lupus, the identified drug may be discontinued upon the recommendation of the health practitioner. One or more histone antibody tests may be used as follow up to monitor antibody levels (titers), if present.

  • When is it ordered?

    A histone antibody test is ordered when a person has been taking a drug for several weeks to a couple of years and develops signs and symptoms that could be due to drug-induced lupus. This is especially true when the person affected did not have a prior personal or family history of an autoimmune disorder. Symptoms may include:

    • Arthritis-like pain in one or more joints (but no or little joint inflammation)
    • Fatigue
    • Fever
    • Muscle pain (myalgia)
    • Red rash that frequently resembles a butterfly across the nose and cheek areas (malar rash)
    • Sensitivity to sunlight
    • Weight loss

    Symptoms and complications involving the central nervous system (CNS) and kidneys occur with SLE but are much rarer with drug-induced lupus.

    The histone antibody test may be repeated at intervals after the drug has been discontinued to monitor for decreases in histone antibody levels.

  • What does the test result mean?

    Results of histone antibody testing are interpreted carefully, taking into consideration several factors. A positive result means that a person likely has drug-induced lupus if the person also has:

    • Symptoms associated with lupus
    • Been taking a drug, especially one associated with the condition, for several weeks to a couple of years
    • No identified autoimmune disorder prior to taking the drug
    • Positive ANA test
    • Low or negative anti-dsDNA and other autoantibodies
    • Symptoms that resolve when the drug is discontinued
    • Histone antibody levels that begin to decrease when the drug is discontinued

    A positive histone antibody result by itself does not establish a diagnosis. About 50% of those with SLE will have histone antibodies, though generally not induced by a specific drug. In these cases, it is likely that the anti-dsDNA test will be positive and significantly elevated.

    A negative result means that the individual's signs and symptoms may be due to a condition other than drug-induced lupus, such as a drug allergy. A small portion of individuals, 5-10%, may have drug-induced lupus even if they do not have histone antibodies.

  • Is there anything else I should know?

    An individual with SLE may have a flare-up that is caused or exacerbated by drug therapy without having drug-induced lupus.

    SLE tends to affect more women than men and tends to occur in people in their 20s to 40s. Drug-induced lupus affects both sexes equally and can affect anyone but occurs most frequently in those who are older.

  • What can I do to change my histone antibody level?

    Talk to your health practitioner about discontinuing the potentially offending drug. When this is done, the histone antibody level should drop over time. Histone antibody levels do not respond to lifestyle changes.

  • If the level of my histone antibodies decreases, can I take my drug again?

    No. The antibodies may drop to very low or undetectable levels, but a small amount will still exist. If you resume taking your drug, it is very likely that your symptoms and increased antibody level would reemerge.

  • Should I tell all of my doctors about being diagnosed with drug-induced lupus?

    Yes, this is an important part of your medical history and needs to be shared as it will need to be taken into account by your health practitioners whenever you are given medications.

  • How long will it take for my results?

    It may take several days before your results are available. This is not a routine test and your sample will frequently need to be sent to a reference laboratory for testing.

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Related Content

On This Site

Tests: ANA, Autoantibodies, Anti-dsDNA, Anti-ssDNA, Antichromatin Antibody, Anti-Sm Antibody

Conditions: Lupus, Autoimmune Disorders

Elsewhere On The Web

Lupus Foundation of America
Lupus Foundation of America: Forms of Lupus
MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Drug-induced lupus erythematosus
S.L.E. Lupus Foundation

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View Sources

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Teitel, A. (Updated 2011 June 28). Drug-induced lupus erythematosus. MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000446.htm. Accessed September 2013.

(© 1995 – 2013). Histone Autoantibodies, Serum. Mayo Clinic Mayo Medical Laboratories [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com/test-catalog/Overview/80944 through http://www.mayomedicallaboratories.com. Accessed September 2013 .

(© 2013). Laboratory Tests for Lupus. Lupus Foundation of America [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_learndiagnosing.aspx?articleid=2242&zoneid=524 through http://www.lupus.org. Accessed September 2013.

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Almoallim, H. et. al. (2012 November 16). Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Induced Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Open Rheumatol J. 2012; v 6: 315–319. [On-line information]. Available online at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3504723/ through http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Accessed September 2013.

Pagana, K. D. & Pagana, T. J. (© 2011). Mosby's Diagnostic and Laboratory Test Reference 10th Edition: Mosby, Inc., Saint Louis, MO. Pp 74.

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