Markers of Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases

Laboratory markers are paramount in autoimmune diseases. The importance of autoantibodies for diagnostic and prognostic purposes has become clear since the introduction in 1948 by Kunkel and Hargraves of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) for diagnosing lupus erythematosus systemic (SLE). Indeed, a considerable passage of time has ensued since the inception of classic diagnostic tests such as the rheumatoid factor, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP), all of which continue to retain their utility in modern clinical practice. Nevertheless, in autoimmune rheumatic diseases, there has been a discernible shift toward more sophisticated analyses. Contemporary investigative modalities now afford the potential for evaluating the antibody specificity toward individual epitopes, thus offering a more significant quantum of precision in diagnosing these diseases. Conversely, it remains pivotal to acknowledge the advent and application of genetic methodologies in our modern medical landscape. Such techniques presently equip us with the capacity to estimate, with considerable advance, the risk of onset for a multitude of autoimmune diseases.