One blood test for autoimmune disease is C-reactive protein (CRP). Another test is ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) - this is done to assess an inflammation that is not from an infection or due to other reasons. One of the most common blood tests for detecting autoimmune disorders is ANA (antinuclear antibodies).
The antinuclear antibody (ANA) immunofluorescence assay (IFA) is a first-line screening test for patients with a suspected autoimmune disease. This test is the gold standard because of its high sensitivity compared to other assays.
“There's usually no single test to diagnose autoimmune disease. You have to have certain symptoms combined with specific blood markers and in some cases, even a tissue biopsy. It's not just one factor.” Diagnosis can also be difficult because these symptoms can come from other common conditions.
These include the complete blood count (CBC), urine analysis (UA), sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), and muscle enzymes. In the CBC, we are looking for an anemia of inflammatory disease which can develop.
Autoimmune diseases can affect many types of tissues and nearly any organ in your body. They may cause a variety of symptoms including pain, tiredness (fatigue), rashes, nausea, headaches, dizziness and more. Specific symptoms depend on the exact disease.
Exams and Tests
Tests that may be done to diagnose an autoimmune disorder include: Antinuclear antibody (ANA) tests. Autoantibody tests. Complete blood count (CBC) with white blood cell differential (CBC with WBC differential)
You may need to take multiple blood tests, but these tests don't definitively determine whether you have an autoimmune condition and which condition you have. Talk with your healthcare provider about any symptoms you have, even if you think they are not related to a particular condition.
Autoimmune disease occurs most often in young women. Incidences of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis peak at approxi- mately age 20, with a 3:1 (female-to-male) preference [1,2]. Incidences of type 1 autoimmune diabetes [3] and autoimmune skin diseases, such as vitiligo, peak at young age [4].
In fact, if an autoimmune disorder is left untreated, it can lead to more serious complications and even death. The person will also run a higher risk of infections.
No one is sure what causes autoimmune diseases. In most cases, a combination of factors is probably at work, such as: Genes, which may make you more likely to develop the disease. Environment, such as a virus that triggers the disease if you have the gene(s).
For many autoimmune diseases, symptoms come and go, or can be mild sometimes and severe at others. When symptoms go away for a while, it's called remission. Flares are the sudden and severe onset of symptoms.
A challenging diagnosis
Some common autoimmune diseases, including Type 1 diabetes mellitus, are relatively easy to diagnose, while others, such as vasculitis, Addison's disease, lupus, and other rheumatic diseases, are more difficult.
Blood tests which detect inflammation are not sensitive enough to diagnose serious underlying conditions, generating an 85% false positive rate and a 50% false negative rate when used for this purpose, according to new research.
Inflammatory markers Used to Diagnose Autoimmune Diseases:
Inflammatory markers are serum proteins that are produced in response to inflammation. These proteins are mainly produced by the liver in response to stress and are also called acute phase reactants.
Many types of autoimmune diseases cause redness, swelling, heat, and pain, which are the signs and symptoms of inflammation. But other illnesses can cause the same symptoms. The symptoms of autoimmune diseases can come and go. During a flare-up, your symptoms may get severe for a while.
They can be a variety of things, including gluten, soy, dairy, corn, nightshades, grains, legumes, coffee, and/or eggs. Work with a functional medicine doctor to find out what diet is best for you. Environmental toxins: Mold and other environmental toxins can both induce AI disease and trigger AI flares.
Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease that can mimic some of the symptoms of MS such as fatigue and joint pain.
You may need to take multiple blood tests, but these tests don't definitively determine whether you have an autoimmune condition and which condition you have. Talk with your healthcare provider about any symptoms you have, even if you think they are not related to a particular condition.
No single test can diagnose most autoimmune diseases. A doctor will use tests, review your symptoms, and conduct a physical examination to reach a diagnosis. Doctors often use the antinuclear antibody test (ANA) when symptoms suggest an autoimmune disease.
Autoimmune disease occurs most often in young women. Incidences of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis peak at approxi- mately age 20, with a 3:1 (female-to-male) preference [1,2]. Incidences of type 1 autoimmune diabetes [3] and autoimmune skin diseases, such as vitiligo, peak at young age [4].
A challenging diagnosis
Some common autoimmune diseases, including Type 1 diabetes mellitus, are relatively easy to diagnose, while others, such as vasculitis, Addison's disease, lupus, and other rheumatic diseases, are more difficult.