Vasculitis Profile (RDL)

ANA are commonly found in a variety of autoimmune diseases. Antibody frequency increases with age in apparently healthy people. ANA patterns on HEp-2 slides provide only general clues about particles (chromatin, nucleosomes, and spliceosomes).

The Farr assay is the most specific method of detecting dsDNA autoantibodies. Significant elevations in dsDNA autoantibody concentrations confirm the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Serial studies of elevated values of dsDNA auto antibodies are useful for predicting activity of SLE.

Anti-MPO autoantibodies aid in assessment of certain autoimmune vasculitides such as microscopic polyarteritis, and crescentic glomerulonephritis. PR-3 is the major target antigen of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA) that give a cytoplasmic (C-ANCA) autoantibodies (ANCA) which give a perinuclear (pANCA) immunofluorescence pattern.

Anti-PR-3 autoantibodies aid in the assessment of certain autoimmune vasculitides such as microscopic polyartheritis and crescentic glomerulonephritis. PR-3 is the major target antigen of antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA) that give a cytoplasmic (C-ANCA) immunofluorescence pattern. Elevated levels of Anti-PR-3 are classically observed in patients with Wegener granulomatosis (WG), particularly with active disease, and less frequently in other forms of necrotizing vasculitis.

ANTI-GBM autoantibodies are recognized as being important in the pathogenesis of the rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis of Goodpasture's syndrome. Measurements of C3 and C4 are used to detect individuals with inborn deficiency of this factor or those with immunologic disease in whom complement is consumed at an increased rate. These include lupus erythematosus, chronic active hepatitis, certain chronic infections, poststreptococcal and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, and others.