Description
Autoantibodies are a hallmark of the autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Laboratory assays exist for identification of an ever increasing number of antigen specificities for these antibodies. This article looks at the two most commonly requested autoantibody investigations, rheumatoid factor and anti-nuclear antibodies in terms of target antigens and clinical value of their investigation. Finally, brief consideration is given with respect to the anti-nuclear antigens to antigen-nucleoprotein complexes which may be the initiating targets in the autoimmune processes.
