The Significance of Multiple Autoantibody Profiling in Early Intervention for Autoimmune Diseases

Multiple Autoantibody Profiling in Early Intervention for Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases can be hard to diagnose. They come with symptoms that are common for a range of other diseases and conditions, such as the flu, allergies, and more. Imagine a patient complaining about fatigue or stomach pain. You wouldn’t be able to tell right away that they’re experiencing the onset of Addison’s disease

Autoimmune diseases affect around 3 percent of people worldwide. Many people suffer without effective treatments. Multiple autoantibody profiling (ANA test) is one of the ways to detect the onset of an autoimmune disease early.

Autoantibody Test

Autoantibodies are misguided antibodies. They attack healthy proteins instead of antigens. Healthcare professionals usually order Autoantibody  tests to pinpoint the ‘why’ of symptoms that appear to have no clear root cause.

Autoantibody tests come in two types:

  • Singular
  • Multiple

At ITSI-Biosciences, we use our proprietary Autoantibody Profiling System (iAPS) to conduct the test.

Which Type Should I Order for My Patient?

The answer depends. Some autoimmune diseases are associated with several autoantibodies. For example, if your patient is developing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), their autoantibody profiling will flag the following autoantibodies:

  • daDNA
  • SS-A/Ro
  • SS-B/La
  • Scl-70
  • Sm
  • SM/RNP
  • Jo-1

Other autoimmune diseases can be diagnosed when just one autoantibody is present.  Ribonucleic protein (RNP) is an indicator of a mixed connective tissue disease.

How Early Detection Helps Prevent and Manage Autoimmune Diseases

Since autoimmune diseases often occur due to genetics or environmental conditions, autoantibody profiling isn’t as effective as a genetic test in helping prevent them. However, there are some cases where autoantibody profiling can help future mothers avoid complicated pregnancies.

Prevention of Autoimmune Diseases

One example of an autoimmune disease is called hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN). This disease affects women during pregnancy. The cause is the incompatibility of blood types between the mother and baby.

Specifically, when a baby’s blood contains an antigen known as Rh D and its mother’s blood doesn’t, the mother’s immune system starts producing antibodies that attack the baby.

If a woman experiences an inexplicable stillbirth or fetal injury, she should undergo autoantibody profiling. If the test uncovers the presence of autoantibodies, the woman may get a shot of Rh immunoglobulin to prevent her body from producing Rh D antibodies.

Management of Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases attack organs. This may lead to:

  • Tissue damage (for example, SLE)
  • Overproduction of hormones (for example, Graves’ disease)

Some anti-inflammatory drugs control your patients’ immune systems. They fight proteins that cause inflammation.

Diagnosing an autoimmune disease early helps implement management strategies to prevent extensive damage and save lives.

A healthy lifestyle is another important management method. Those who suffer from inexplicable fatigue are at a higher risk of depression. Exercise and a healthy diet play a role in helping improve well-being. Also, early detection can help patients quit harmful habits, such as smoking.

At ITSI-Biosciences, we serve healthcare professionals and patients worldwide. Contact us today. We can help your healthcare facility with the early detection of autoimmune diseases.