From the Guidelines

Yes, there is a correlation between Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) and connective tissue disease.

The presence of ANA is a key criterion in the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other connective tissue diseases, as stated in the EULAR/ACR 2019 classification criteria 1.
ANA testing is primarily intended for diagnostic purposes, and not for monitoring disease progression, as recommended by international guidelines 1.
A positive ANA test result is associated with a variety of systemic rheumatologic disorders, including SLE, and is relatively frequent in healthy individuals, with a specificity of 74.7% for SLE diagnosis 1.
The detection of ANA is considered the first level test for laboratory diagnosis of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD), and is often used as an entry criterion for further testing, including anti-dsDNA and anti-ENA antibodies 1.
The indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIFA) is considered the reference method for ANA screening, and alternative assays can be used while keeping in mind that false negative and false positive ratios may be different 1.

In clinical practice, ANA tests are requested in various scenarios, including diagnosis, clinical algorithms to rule out autoimmune disorders, and treatment evaluation unrelated to SLE 1.
The high sensitivity and relatively low specificity of ANA testing make it an appropriate entry criterion for the EULAR/ACR 2019 classification, but caution is necessary when using it for diagnosis due to its limited specificity 1.
Confirmatory testing of anti-extractable nuclear antigens autoantibodies (anti-ENA) is recommended when ANAs turn out positive during diagnosis, and international detection methods and discrepancy resolution recommendations should be followed 1.

From the Research

There is a significant correlation between Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) and connective tissue disease, as ANA are useful diagnostic tools in the management of connective tissue diseases (CTD) 2.
The study of ANA profiles, characterized by restricted specificities, abnormally high titers, or both, can provide important insights into the origin and pathogenesis of CTD 2.
The presence of ANA can be associated with specific signs or symptoms of CTD, helping clinicians in the correct monitoring and management of CTD 2.

ANA are often present in connective tissue diseases, and their type and specificity can be used to diagnose and monitor CTD 3.
Different CTDs have distinct ANA profiles, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's syndrome, and systemic sclerosis, which can aid in diagnosis and management 3.
The detection of extractable antinuclear antibodies (ENA) can also be useful in the diagnosis of CTD, as certain ENA are associated with specific CTDs 3.

The immunofluorescence pattern of ANA can be associated with specific autoantibodies, such as anti-dsDNA and anti-extractable nuclear antigen, in CTD patients 4.
Certain ANA patterns, such as peripheral and homogenous patterns, are strongly associated with anti-dsDNA, while speckled patterns may predict anti-ENA 4.
The association between ANA patterns and specific autoantibodies can aid in the diagnosis and management of CTD, particularly in developing countries where resources may be limited 4.

DFS70 antibodies are rarely present in ANA+ patients with CTD, and their presence can be used to rule out CTD with high specificity 5.
The detection of DFS70 antibodies can be useful in unclear situations and in cases of anxious patients, where the diagnosis of CTD is uncertain 5.
However, the diagnosis of CTD cannot be reliably ruled out solely by the presence of DFS70 antibodies, and other diagnostic criteria should also be considered 5.