We investigated the presence of serum antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) and autoantibodies and their relationship with serum prognostic indicators in lymphoma patients. The study population comprised 127 patients diagnosed with lymphoma and 138 healthy control subjects. The blood samples of the participants were assayed for ANAs by immunofluorescence, and autoantibodies were detected by western blotting. Serum ANAs were detected in 31.5 (40/127) and 6.5% (9/138) of lymphoma patients and control subjects, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the lymphoma and the control groups (P < 0.05). The level of lactate dehydrogenase in the ANA-positive subjects was significantly lower than in the ANA-negative subjects (P < 0.05). Low ANA titers (1:100) were commonly found in the ANA-positive subjects and the control subjects, and the fluorescence models were diverse. Autoantibodies were found in 35% (14/40) of the ANA-positive patients by western blotting. Detection of ANAs in lymphoma patients helps in determining the diagnosis and prognosis of lymphoma, but has no independent diagnostic value; there are still various autoantibodies of unknown significance that require further study.