Determination of antibodies in everyday rheumatological practice

Abstract

Antibody determination is routinely used in everyday rheumatological practice. Its result repeatedly determines the diagnosis or exclusion of a particular disease. Antibodies are immunoglobulins, i.e. some of the most important proteins in the immune system, and have specific properties that we should know. In addition, there are a number of factors that can affect their concentration, including drugs commonly used in the treatment of rheumatic diseases. There are definite indications, when the total concentrations of individual classes of immunoglobulins should be initially determined and it should be evaluated whether the patient produces them at all or their production is impaired. In some cases, we should evaluate the levels of specific antibodies along with the total protein concentration and the γ-globulin fraction, in which the antibodies are contained. The article presents information on the most common mistakes made when performing these tests.

<p>Schnitzler Syndrome in a 27-Year-Old Man: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Dilemma in Adult Auto-Inflammatory Syndromes A Case Report and Literature Review</p>

“…In rheumatic and hematologic conditions hypogammaglobulinemia can be primary or secondary and can be a warning sign for immunodeficiency. 26 In our case, hypogammaglobulinemia was not clinically significant, we did not observe increased susceptibility for any common or atypical infection during the immunosuppressive or tocilizumab treatment. In our opinion, the hypogammaglobulinemia was related to tocilizumab, as IgG and IgA normalised after the tocilizumab was ceased.…”

Inclusion of dietary nontoxic sulfur on growth performance, immune response, sulfur amino acid content and meat characteristics in growing-finishing pigs

“…In general, IgA plays an important role in protecting mucosal surfaces when toxins, viruses, and bacteria enter or bind to a mucosal surface [ 23 ]. IgG accounts for the larger concentration of immunoglobulin in serum and extravascular spaces and is primarily involved in systemic defensive action [ 24 ]. In the late finishing period, the IgG concentration linearly increased because inorganic sulfur supplied in the feed was activated to combine with organic compounds in the animal body and then could provide a bioavailable sulfur source [ 25 ], and more sulfur-containing amino acids then accumulated in the body, which could indirectly enhance the immunity of growing-finishing pigs and improve the anti-inflammatory symptoms [ 26 ].…”