title: Utility of immunologic testing in suspected rheumatologic disease.
abstract: The use of diagnostic testing in the clinical practice of medicine has been a shifting landscape from the time that the first blood test was utilized. This is no different in the field of immunology and in particular rheumatology. As the field of immunology is relatively young, the clinical tests are not well established and therefore guidelines for use are still under debate. In this review, we seek to look at some of the key autoantibodies, as well as other tests that are available to diagnose suspected rheumatologic disease, and examine how to best use these tests in the clinic. In particular, we will focus on the anti-nuclear antibodies, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, complement, cryoglobulins, rheumatoid factor, and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bhagat
authors.forename: Shiv T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Sehra
authors.forename: Anupama
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shahane
authors.forename: Mildred
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kwan
mesh_terms: D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology*; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000097:blood; D003165:Complement System Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D003450:Cryoglobulins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007159:Immunologic Tests; D007160:Immunoproliferative Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology*; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014581:Urticaria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001685:Biological Factors; D003450:Cryoglobulins; D003165:Complement System Proteins; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor