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164 - Laboratory Diagnosis of Autoimmune Diseases: Time for a Change?

Autor(s): D. Villalta, R. Tozzoli, E. Tonutti, N. Bizzaro

Issue: RIMeL - IJLaM, Vol. 2, N. 2, 2006 (MAF Servizi srl ed.)

Page(s): 164-169

Array and proteomic technologies have given birth to an era of multiple autoantibody tests. The possibility of simultaneously tracking various antibodies and, consequently, of defining wide autoantibody profiles could facilitate the diagnosis, stage, prognosis and therapy of autoimmune diseases. However, such promising technologies are just in their infancy, and will need to undergo rigorous analytical and critical evaluations. Specifically, after having established the general standards on how to conduct and publish the microarray generated data, the clinical aspect will need to involve clinicians and pathologists in prospectic, multicentric studies involving numerous cases, with the objective of defining the specific significance of the various autoantibody profiles. Only when this process has been completed will it be possible to utilize such technologies in clinical laboratories. On one hand we are at the beginning of a time that is likely to lead us toward a radical change in the way autoimmune diseases are diagnosed, on the other hand, we don’t have enough experience yet in the large scale application of proteomic technologies. So, at least for the moment, it is appropriate to follow proven diagnostic algorithms, such as those based on international guidelines and evidencebased medicine

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