086 - Autoimmunology Tests in the diagnosis and monitoring of Systemic Sclerosis: the answer of the Laboratory
Autor(s): D. Bassetti
Issue: RIMeL - IJLaM, Vol. 3, N. 3-S1, 2007 (MAF Servizi srl ed.)
Page(s): 86-88
The Medicine of Laboratory is very helpful in assessing the diagnosis, prognosis, monitoring and treatment of scleroderma patients. In particulary several autoantibodies associated with systemic sclerosis can be detected by immunological methods. In more than 95% of the patients antinuclear antibodies or others autoantibodies are present , each of wich is useful in the diagnosis of affected patients and in determining their prognosis. Anti-centromere antibodies and anti-topoisomerase I (Scl-70) antibodies are available in distinguishing patients with systemic sclerosis from healthy controls, from patients with others connective tissue disease. Anti-centromere antibodies predict a limited skin involvement and the absence of pulmonary fibrosis; the presence of anti-topoisomerase I increases the risk for diffuse skin involvement and scleroderma lung disease. Anti-fibrillarin and anti-RNA-polymerase autoantibodies occur less frequently but are predictive of diffuse skin involvement and systemic disease.