What is a characteristic laboratory finding in scleroderma?

A characteristic laboratory finding in scleroderma is the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs). These antibodies are commonly associated with autoimmune diseases, including scleroderma, and are used as a key marker in the diagnosis of this condition. In scleroderma, specific types of antinuclear antibodies, such as anti-Scl-70 (topoisomerase I) antibodies or anti-centromere antibodies, can often be found in the blood of affected individuals. Detecting these antibodies helps to confirm the diagnosis and understand the underlying autoimmune process.

In contrast, low ESR and elevated CRP are less specific as they are markers of inflammation and can be elevated in many conditions, making them not uniquely indicative of scleroderma. Normal liver enzymes, on the other hand, do not provide information relevant to the autoimmune aspects of scleroderma and are not characteristic findings associated with the disease.