title: Testing for autoimmunity in humans.
abstract: A number of the autoimmune rheumatic diseases are associated with environmental factors, drugs and chemicals. The often non-specific presentation of these diseases makes early diagnosis difficult. The availability of serological markers such as autoantibodies improves diagnostic ability when taken in context with the presenting clinical features. This review focuses on some of the major autoimmune rheumatic diseases and their associated autoantibody markers.
authors.affiliation: The Lupus Research Unit, St. Thomas' Hospital, SE1 7EH, London, UK. david.d'cruz@kcl.ac.uk
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: D'Cruz
mesh_terms: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D009220:Myositis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor