WHAT IS.

The body’s antibodies normally function to selectively attack external infectious agents, remaining inactive against all other non-pathological elements, as well as the body’s own elements.

In autoimmune diseases, this selectivity of antibodies is lost, resulting in attacks on the body and its organs.

These are chronic diseases with a hereditary predisposition that can have varied manifestations and severity. There are approximately 80-100 different autoimmune diseases, and they often appear in combination. Their evaluation often requires multiple specialized and individualized analyses.

BASIC CASES OF OCCURRENCE – INDICATIONS – SIGNIFICANCE

Autoantibodies usually appear in individuals with a family history of autoimmune diseases, following a viral infection, long-term exposure to toxic chemicals, or prolonged intense stress.

Their occurrence can be organ-specific (e.g., thyroid) or systemic, affecting all organs.

The most common ones include:

• Antiphospholipid syndrome
• Autoimmune hepatitis
• Type I diabetes
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Sarcoidosis
• Scleroderma
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
• Graves’ disease
• Sjögren’s syndrome

General symptoms of autoimmune diseases may include:

• Fatigue, difficulty concentrating, vision problems, food intolerances, weight changes
• Pain in joints, muscles, gastrointestinal issues, localized or generalized
• Skin discolorations, inflammations, changes in nails and scalp, fevers
• Recurrent miscarriages, infertility
• High inflammation markers, high blood sugar, abnormal urine findings

Early and accurate diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune diseases prevent their degenerative effects and the potential emergence of additional diseases.

LABORATORY BLOOD TEST

Α. Systemic Autoimmune Diseases (affecting the whole body):

Autoimmune diseases present similar indications and often appear in combination. The primary tests used for detection and monitoring are usually a combination of the following, though more specialized tests are used as needed:

• Complete Blood Count (CBC), Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP): Checks for signs of an inflammatory reaction from a systemic autoimmune disease and the balance of the hemodynamic-immune system.
• Complement components C3, C4: Detect long-term activation and exhaustion of the immune system caused by autoimmune diseases.
• Uric acid (UA), transaminases (ALT/AST), CK, LDH: Checks for potential stress on the joints, liver, muscles, and hematopoietic system.
• General urine analysis: Checks for possible impact on kidney function, primarily through protein detection.
• Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP): Used to detect rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren’s syndrome.
• Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) and ANA profile: Used for the detection of systemic lupus erythematosus, polymyositis, etc.
• Anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL IgG, aCL IgA, aCL IgM): Detects antiphospholipid syndrome (recommended for venous or arterial thrombosis, recurrent miscarriages).

Β. Organ-specific Autoimmune Diseases

Specialized analyses are conducted to detect specific diseases. The most characteristic and common are:

• Anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (anti-TPO), anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (anti-Tg), TSH receptor antibodies (TRAb): Detection and monitoring of Hashimoto’s and Graves’ autoimmune thyroiditis.
• Anti-smooth muscle antibodies (ASMA): Differential diagnosis of chronic active autoimmune hepatitis.
• Anti-mitochondrial antibodies (AMA): Used for the diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis.

PREVENTION IMAGING TESTS

Used as needed based on indications, personal and family history.

The most common due to simplicity and safety from a technical standpoint are ultrasound exams:

• Thyroid ultrasound
• Upper and lower abdomen ultrasound (liver, kidneys, spleen)