title: The clinical implications of autoantibody detection in rheumatology.
abstract: The laboratory plays an increasing role in the diagnosis and clinical management of patients with rheumatic diseases. It is therefore essential that the results of laboratory tests are both accurate and reliable, and give clinicians correct information. It is also important to keep clinicians informed of the changes occurring in the rapidly evolving field of investigation of autoantibodies.
authors.affiliation: Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, London.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Charles
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Maini
mesh_terms: D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers