Re: Stanford's new antigen microarrays could transform autoimmune dieasetreatment and diagnosis

[Guest guest]

a,

I've never heard of this... Where might I go for more information?

Thanks!

Suzanne

[ ] Stanford's new antigen microarrays could transform

autoimmune dieasetreatment and diagnosis

Stanford's new antigen microarrays could transform autoimmune diease

treatment and diagnosis

Mar 8, 2002 (Datamonitor) - Until now, autoimmune diseases have been

difficult to diagnose and treat. But a new microarray-based technology

developed at Stanford University Medical Center may help solve the problem.

Antigen microarrays, as reported in the March issue of Nature Medicine, give

doctors a glimpse of which antigens come under attack in an autoimmune

disease. By identifying these antigens, doctors can pinpoint diseases and

treatment options. " Prescribing currently available drugs for autoimmune

diseases is like taking a sledgehammer to the immune system, " said Dr

, a fellow in the division of immunology and rheumatology

and lead author on the paper. Such drugs cripple the immune system,

preventing it from attacking the body, but also opening vulnerability to

colds and more serious infections, he explained. Dr P J Utz, senior author

on the study and Dr eventually hope to uncover the tell-tale

patterns of all autoimmune diseases. Although diagnosing disease may be the

microarray's most immediate use, an array can also help design effective

treatment for each patient. Microarrays could also help determine who is at

future risk of developing a disease because autoantibodies may be formed

years before signs of illness. Doctors also may use the microarray in

clinical trials of a new drug. Dr Utz explained that not all people with a

given disease produce the same antibodies. Instead, they may produce two or

three out of five that are associated with the disease. By analyzing

microarrays of those who respond to a drug and those who don't, doctors can

identify patterns that show who is most likely to benefit from the drug.

[Guest guest]

Suzanne,

The only information I can find is the announcement of this new technology.

I don't know when it will be available for use. I'll keep my eye out for

any new developments. Maybe our doctors would know.

a

[ ] Stanford's new antigen microarrays could transform

autoimmune dieasetreatment and diagnosis