Autoantibodies
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The autoantibodies test is a blood test in which a sample is taken from a vein to detect antibodies that mistakenly target the body’s own tissues. It is used to help diagnose autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and other immune-mediated disorders.
Common questions
Autoantibody tests are performed, along with x‑rays and other imaging scans and biopsies, to help diagnose an autoimmune disorder. In some cases, they can also be used to help evaluate the severity of the condition, monitor activity of the disease, and assess the effectiveness of treatments. However, a diagnosis of autoimmune disease is never decided only on the autoantibody results. There are always a number of symptoms and test results that are considered together to arrive at the correct diagnosis.
Autoantibody tests may be requested when a person presents with chronic, progressive arthritic symptoms, fever, fatigue, muscle weakness, and/or a rash that cannot readily be explained. One of the most commonly requested tests is the antinuclear antibody (ANA) test. ANA is positive in a variety of autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjögren syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, and autoimmune hepatitis. In patients with a positive ANA, a follow on test investigating a panel of 6 or more specific autoantibody tests. The particular autoantibodies detected can help the doctor to determine if a particular autoimmune disorder is likely to be present.
Specific autoantibodies are usually present in a percentage of people with a particular autoimmune disorder. For instance, up to 80% of those with SLE will have a positive anti-double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) test, but only about 10% with SLE will be positive for anti-Sm antibodies. Some individuals with an autoimmune disorder will have negative autoantibody test results but, at a later date as the disorder progresses, autoantibodies may develop. A small percentage of the general population may have one or more autoantibodies present in their blood with no associated symptoms. Autoantibodies are also more commonly found in older people.
Systemic autoantibodies
The list below includes some of the autoantibody tests that are used to identify systemic autoimmune disorders.
- Antinuclear Antibodies (ANA)
- Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic (ANCA) antibody
- Anti-Sjögren Syndrome A (Anti-SS‑A) (Ro) antibody
- Anti-Sjögren Syndrome B (Anti-SS‑B) (La) antibody
- Anti-Double Stranded DNA (Anti-dsDNA) antibody
- Rheumatoid Factor (RF)
- Anti-Jo‑1 antibody
- Anti-Ribonucleoprotein (Anti-RNP) antibody
- Anti-Scleroderma-70 (SCL-70) antibody
- Anti-Smith (Anti-Sm) antibody
- Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibody (CCP)
Organ-specific autoantibodies
Thyroid
Gastrointestinal tract
- Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase (anti-tTG) antibody
- Anti-endomysial antibody
- Intrinsic Factor Antibodies
Liver
- Smooth Muscle Antibody (SMA)
- Anti-Mitochondrial (AMA) antibody
- Liver-Kidney Microsomal (LKM) antibodies
Kidney
- Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane (GBM) antibody
Clotting (coagulation) system