title: The diagnostic utility of autoantibodies in adult and juvenile myositis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is to review recent advances in the diagnostic utility of autoantibodies in dermatomyositis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alternative nonspecialist testing methods have been developed for anti-transcription intermediary factor 1 gamma, anti-MDA5 and anti-nuclear matrix protein 2, which are potentially exploitable by any hospital laboratory. Although these have yet to be validated for diagnostic use, it is likely that testing for myositis-specific antibodies will soon become readily available.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The identification of myositis-specific autoantibodies provides both diagnostic and prognostic information and offers a unique opportunity to adopt a stratified approach to treatment. Their identification, in many cases, should prevent the need for invasive diagnostic tests such as muscle biopsy.
authors.affiliation: aRoyal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases bUniversity of Bath, Bath, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Tansley
authors.forename: Zoe E
authors.initials: ZE
authors.lastname: Betteridge
authors.forename: Neil J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: McHugh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D015415:Biomarkers