Screening for autoimmune diseases in apparently healthy antinuclear antibody positive individuals.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) assessed by immunofluorescence (IF) microscopy are associated with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD) and can be detected years before onset of clinical symptoms. Recent data indicate dysregulation of the immune system with increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including type I interferons (IFN), in ANA-positive versus ANA-negative individuals. Herein, the aims were to investigate IF-ANA, ANA fine specificities, and IFN-α protein levels in relation to self-reported symptoms, as well as clinical signs, of SARD in a large group of healthy blood donors (HBD).

Methods

Sera from 825 HBD (48.8% females) were included. IF-ANA was assessed, using HEp-2 cells, according to the routine at the accredited laboratory of Clinica

SUBMITTER: Andraos R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11368755 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature