Autoantibodies in autoimmune rheumatic disease

Initial characterization of autoimmune rheumatic disease through clinical assessment and investigation including serological measurements offers a vital opportunity to personalize treatment regimens, contributes to accurate prognosis and therefore optimizes outcomes. Disease monitoring using serological tests as biomarkers also contributes to earlier recognition of disease relapse or remission, and allows appropriate titration of medication. All rheumatic diseases have typical antibody associations, and understanding how to request tests appropriately and thereafter analyse them forms an important part of disease management. In this article, we introduce the standard tests available in the UK and a pragmatic approach to testing in inpatient and outpatient environments.