Autoantibodies in Disease Criteria for Systemic Autoimmune Diseases:Developments in the Last Decade

Autoantibodies are widely incorporated in the disease criteria of the systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Unfortunately, standardization of laboratory assays for the detection of autoantibodies is lacking. Therefore, critical appraisal of the test characteristics associated with the wide array of assays currently available is essential for appropriate interpretation in the context of the criteria. This chapter provides an overview of the autoantibodies that are currently incorporated in the disease criteria of the systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases and discusses the issues that may hamper interpretation of results in the context of the criteria. These issues should be taken into account when revising the distinct disease criteria