Could Autoantibodies Predict Future Disease in Healthy People?

[Guest guest]

Source: Lancet Released: Wed 05-May-2004, 16:20 ET

Could Autoantibodies Predict Future Disease in Healthy People?

Description

A review article discusses how autoantibody detection in the blood of

healthy individuals could have potential as a marker for future autoimmune

diseases such as Rheumatoid arthritis and Lupus syndrome.

A review article in this week's issue of THE LANCET discusses how

autoantibody detection in the blood of healthy individuals could have

potential as a marker for future autoimmune diseases such as Rheumatoid

arthritis and Lupus syndrome.

Hal Scofield from the Oklahoma Research Foundation, USA, discusses recent

evidence suggesting that autoantibodies (antibodies that attack the body's

own tissue) are often apparent several years before an illness becomes

manifest. He cites recent research among people with rheumatoid arthritis

where specific autoantibodies were detected more than four years before the

onset of disease symptoms.

Professor Scofield comments: " the data indicate that autoimmune disease is

preceded by a long preclinical phase in which individuals can be identified

by the presence of autoantibodies. Such identification might allow

immunological treatment whereby disease is prevented, as is already being

studied in diabetes. Alternatively, even if disease cannot be prevented,

perhaps life-threatening but treatable conditions could be avoided, such as

diabetic coma as well as severe, acute complications of untreated 's

disease (adrenal-gland failure) or Graves' disease (overactive thyroid

gland). For all these diseases, except type 1 diabetes, further work is

needed to assess the natural history of disease progression and predictive

value of autoantibodies in healthy individuals " .

[Guest guest]

I agree, Cary, that's a big worry as we travel down this path. I'm

hoping that, in the end, good will triumph over evil!

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

Re: [ ] Could Autoantibodies Predict Future Disease in

Healthy People?

> In a message dated 12/05/2004 09:28:19 Central Standard Time,

> paula54@... writes:

>

>

> > Alternatively, even if disease cannot be prevented,

> > perhaps life-threatening but treatable conditions could be avoided

>

> Or insurance could be denied, fearing future big

payouts?...........Cary