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Seronegative Autoimmune Diseases
Author(s) -
Alessandri Cristiano,
Conti Fabrizio,
Conigliaro Paola,
Mancini Riccardo,
Massaro Laura,
Valesini Guido
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04806.x
Subject(s) - autoimmunity , autoantibody , immunology , medicine , rheumatoid arthritis , antiphospholipid syndrome , disease , autoimmune disease , arthritis , antibody
A close relationship exists between autoimmunity and autoantibodies; despite this, some patients are persistently negative for disease‐specific autoantibodies. These conditions have been defined as seronegative autoimmune diseases. Although the prevalence of seronegative autoimmune diseases is low, they may represent a practical problem because they are often difficult cases. There are also situations in which autoantibodies are positive in healthy subjects. In particular, three different conditions can be described: latent autoimmunity, preclinical autoimmunity, and postclinical autoimmunity. Here, we analyze briefly the meaning of autoantibody negativity in the seronegative autoimmune diseases, focusing in particular on the specificities associated with systemic lupus erythematosus, antiphospholipid syndrome, and rheumatoid arthritis.