Autoantibodies Associated with Rheumatic Diseases
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Abstract
The identification of circulating autoantibodies contributes to the correct diagnosis as well as to the follow-up of rheumatic diseases. Some autoantibodies are even included in diagnostic and classification criteria for these types of autoimmune diseases. There are several relatively specific screening and identification methods for the measurement of autoantibodies available. The type of assay crucially influences the diagnostic value of the parameters. In general, routine laboratories should prefer enzyme immunoassays (ELISA) using well characterized antigens, although ELISA tests tend to produce more false-positive and true weakly positive results, which reduce their positive predictive value. Therefore one should be aware that laboratory results can only be properly interpreted when there is a correlation with the clinical situation and when the limitations of the technologies used for autoantibody identification have been taken into consideration.
A diagnostic algorithm consisting of screening and identification steps should be established by each laboratory in order to create a rational, evidence-based and cost-effective basis for the diagnosis of rheumatic diseases.
Copyright © 2001 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG
Articles in the same Issue
- Autoantibodies Associated with Rheumatic Diseases
- Simultaneous Detection of Multiple Proteins with an Array-Based Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Enhanced Chemiluminescence (ECL)
- Hippuric Acid Test Using 13C-Labelling and NMR Spectroscopy
- Hippuric Acid as a Modifier of Calcium Oxalate Crystallisation
- Excretion of Sweat and Urine Pyridinoline Crosslinks in Healthy Controls and Subjects with Established Metabolic Bone Disease
- Hyperhomocysteinemia and Changed Plasma Thiol Redox Status in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Biochemical Evaluation of Oxidative Stress during Exercise in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease
- Prognostic Significance of the Presence of Erythroblasts in Blood after Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Exploratory Biochemical Data Analysis: a Comparison of Two Sample Means and Diagnostic Displays
- Standardization of Laboratory Data and Establishment of Reference Intervals in the Fukuoka Prefecture: A Japanese Perspective
- Calibration, Specificity and Trueness of a Postheparin Plasma Lipoprotein Lipase Assay
- Analytical Performance of a Direct Assay for LDL-Cholesterol
- Genotyping Method for Point Mutation Detection in the Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Exon 7 Using Fluorescent Probes. Clinical Validation in Systemic Sclerosis Patients
- IFCC Reference Measurement Procedure for Substance Concentration Determination of Total Carbon Dioxide in Blood, Plasma or Serum
- Joshua Lederberg (Editor-in-Chief): Encyclopedia of Microbiology, 2nd Edition, Vol 1-4
Articles in the same Issue
- Autoantibodies Associated with Rheumatic Diseases
- Simultaneous Detection of Multiple Proteins with an Array-Based Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Enhanced Chemiluminescence (ECL)
- Hippuric Acid Test Using 13C-Labelling and NMR Spectroscopy
- Hippuric Acid as a Modifier of Calcium Oxalate Crystallisation
- Excretion of Sweat and Urine Pyridinoline Crosslinks in Healthy Controls and Subjects with Established Metabolic Bone Disease
- Hyperhomocysteinemia and Changed Plasma Thiol Redox Status in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- Biochemical Evaluation of Oxidative Stress during Exercise in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease
- Prognostic Significance of the Presence of Erythroblasts in Blood after Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Exploratory Biochemical Data Analysis: a Comparison of Two Sample Means and Diagnostic Displays
- Standardization of Laboratory Data and Establishment of Reference Intervals in the Fukuoka Prefecture: A Japanese Perspective
- Calibration, Specificity and Trueness of a Postheparin Plasma Lipoprotein Lipase Assay
- Analytical Performance of a Direct Assay for LDL-Cholesterol
- Genotyping Method for Point Mutation Detection in the Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Exon 7 Using Fluorescent Probes. Clinical Validation in Systemic Sclerosis Patients
- IFCC Reference Measurement Procedure for Substance Concentration Determination of Total Carbon Dioxide in Blood, Plasma or Serum
- Joshua Lederberg (Editor-in-Chief): Encyclopedia of Microbiology, 2nd Edition, Vol 1-4
