Newer Autoantibodies and Laboratory Assessments in Myositis.

Purpose Of Review: We aim to describe the immunoassays that have been used for myositis autoantibody discovery with a focus on newer methods. We describe recently identified myositis autoantibodies that do not yet form part of routine clinical testing, highlighting what is known about their associated clinical phenotype and potential clues as to their presence.

Recent Findings: Novel approaches to autoantibody detection have been employed in recent years including chemiluminescent immunoassay, phage immunoprecipitation-sequencing and modifications to the more traditional immunoprecipitation technique.

Anti-Sp4 and Anti-CCAR1 autoantibodies in UK vs. US patients with adult and juvenile-onset anti-TIF1Æ´-positive myositis.

Objectives: Anti-TIF1γ autoantibodies are associated with malignancy in adult-onset idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) and this risk is attenuated if patients are also positive for anti-specificity protein 4 (Sp4) or anti-cell division cycle apoptosis regulator protein 1 (CCAR1). In anti-TIF1γ positive US dermatomyositis (DM) patients, anti-Sp4 and anti-CCAR1 autoantibody frequencies are reported as 32% and 43% in adults and 9% and 19% in juveniles, respectively. This study aims to identify the frequency of anti-Sp4 and anti-CCAR1 in adult and juvenile UK anti-TIF1ƴ-positive myositis populations and report clinical associations.

Autoantibody testing in myositis: an update.

Purpose Of Review: This review aims to provide an update on myositis autoantibody testing strategies. We have focussed on the reliability and usefulness of different myositis autoantibody detection methods, including commonly used solid phase immunoassays and newer discovery techniques.

Recent Findings: Several studies have highlighted the limitations of currently available immunoassays, particularly when used in populations with low pretest probability and without supporting clinical evidence.

Identification of connective tissue disease autoantibodies and a novel autoantibody anti-annexin A11 in patients with "idiopathic" interstitial lung disease.

Background: Autoantibodies are a hallmark feature of Connective Tissue Diseases (CTD). Their presence in patients with idiopathic interstitial lung disease (ILD) may suggest covert CTD. We aimed to determine the prevalence of CTD autoantibodies in patients diagnosed with idiopathic ILD.