Epidemiological and ethical aspects of multiplex autoantibody testing.

Arrays are one of the technologies able to detect autoantibodies by measuring simultaneously many thousands of markers from a unique biological sample. The main purpose of a diagnostic test is making an early and accurate diagnosis. From a statistical point of view, multiple testing increases the probability of false positive and false negative results.

Prevalence and clinical significance of antiphospholipid antibodies to noncardiolipin antigens in systemic lupus erythematosus.

The specificity and immunoglobulin isotype distribution of antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies have been evaluated in 68 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by ELISA which employed a panel of 7 different PL antigens. A total of 49 patients (72%) were positive for aPL antibodies of different isotypes and directed to one or more PL epitopes. Prevalence of IgG anticardiolipin (aCL, 37%) was similar to that of the other negatively charged PLs phosphatidylserine (PS, 35%), phosphatidylinositol (PI, 35%), phosphatidylglycerol (PG, 35%) and phosphatidic acid (PA, 40%); prevalence reduced to 9-12% and 7-16% respectively for IgM and IgA isotypes to the same antigens.

[The importance and limits of laboratory tests for evaluating the transplacental passage of fetal erythrocytes into the maternal circulation].

The KBB acid elution test is used to assess the presence and extent of transplacental passage of fetal cells into the maternal circulation both as a diagnostic aid in detecting hemorrhage before birth and in monitoring pregnancies at risk for hemolytic disease of the newborn. However the technique is ineffective when an hereditary Hb-pathy with associated increase in HbF is present in the mother, like the HPFH, delta-beta thalassemia and other hereditary abnormal hemoglobins. A mother with HPFH and another mother with delta-beta thalassemia with false positive result of the acid-elution test are described and the need for an extension of the clinical and laboratory study in families with hereditary HbF disorder is stressed.