What are Autoimmune Diseases and what are the Clinical Laboratory Tests to Detect them?

Autoimmune diseases are complex conditions that affect millions of people worldwide. In this post, we will explore what autoimmune diseases are, how they manifest themselves and what clinical laboratory tests are used to diagnose them.

What are autoimmune diseases?

Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system, which normally protects the body from infection and disease, mistakenly attacks healthy tissues and organs. This malfunction can affect various parts of the body, from the skin to internal organs, causing a wide range of symptoms and complications.

Common types of autoimmune diseases

There are more than 80 different types of autoimmune diseases. Some of the most common include:

  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): Affects the skin, joints, kidneys and other organs.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): Causes inflammation and pain in the joints.
  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Affects the central nervous system.
  • Type 1 diabetes: The immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
  • Hashimoto’s thyroiditis: Affects the thyroid gland, causing hypothyroidism.

Symptoms of autoimmune diseases

Symptoms vary according to the specific disease and may include:

  • Fatigue
  • Joint pain and swelling
  • Skin problems, such as rashes
  • Recurrent fever
  • Hair loss
  • Digestive problems

Clinical laboratory tests for autoimmune diseases

Diagnosis of autoimmune diseases can be challenging due to the variety of symptoms they present. However, there are several laboratory tests that can help identify these conditions:

  1. Antinuclear antibody (ANA) tests:
    • They detect the presence of autoantibodies that attack the nucleus of cells. A positive ANA test may indicate an autoimmune disease.
  2. Specific Antibody Tests:
    • Double-stranded anti-DNA antibodies: Used in the diagnosis of lupus.
    • Rheumatoid factor (RF): Commonly elevated in rheumatoid arthritis.
    • Anti-thyroid antibodies: Used to diagnose Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
  3. Complementary tests:
    • They measure the levels of proteins of the complement system, which are often altered in autoimmune diseases.
  4. Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) and C-reactive Protein (CRP) tests:
    • Indicators of inflammation in the body, which may be elevated in autoimmune diseases.
  5. Biopsies:
    • In some cases, tissue samples may be taken for microscopic analysis, as in skin biopsy for cutaneous lupus.

Autoimmune diseases are complex and can present a wide variety of symptoms. Clinical laboratory tests are essential tools for the diagnosis and management of these diseases. If you experience symptoms that could indicate an autoimmune disease, it is important to consult a health professional for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

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