The clinical and the laboratory autoimmunologist: Where do we stand?

Tozzoli, Renato; Bizzaro, Nicola

doi:10.1186/s13317-020-00133-1

Cited by 10 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 49 publications

(49 reference statements)

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“…For the diagnosis and the follow-up of ARD an integrated approach based on clinical and laboratories criteria is recommended. An early diagnosis can ensure an appropriate treatment to avoid systemic complications and improve disease's prognosis [10][11][12]25,26 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Appropriateness of Diagnostic Pathways of Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases

Carbone¹,

Picerno²,

Pafundi

et al. 2021

J Rheumatol

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Objective Early diagnosis of autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD) is key to achieving effective treatment and improved prognosis. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to major changes in clinical practice on a global scale. We aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rheumatological clinical practices and autoimmunity testing demands. Methods Data regarding first rheumatological visits and new diagnosis together with the autoimmunity laboratory testing volumes related to COVID-19 pandemic phase (January- December 2020), were collected from medical records and laboratory information system (LIS) of a regional reference hospital (Basilicata, Italy) and compared with those obtained during the corresponding period in 2019. Results A significant decrease in the 2020 autoimmunity laboratory test volume was found when compared with the same period in 2019 (9912 vs 14100, p<0.05). A significant decrease in first rheumatological visits and diagnosis (1272 vs 2336, p<0.05) was also observed. However, an equivalent or higher percentage of positive autoimmunity results from outpatients services were recorded during 2020 when compared to pre-pandemic state. Of note, COVID- 19 associated decline in new diagnosis mainly affected less severe diseases. In contrast, ARD with systemic involvement were diagnosed at the same levels as the pre-pandemic period. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted on the access to health services. However, our study highlighted that during the outbreak, greater appropriateness of the requests of laboratory test and visits emerged as shown by a greater percentage of positive testing results and new diagnosis of more severe ARD compared to pre-pandemic period.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Appropriateness of Diagnostic Pathways of Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases

Carbone¹,

Picerno²,

Pafundi

et al. 2021

J Rheumatol

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“…Furthermore, integrating FI based iQC charts into the routine ANA IIF workflow offers a solution to current shortcomings of autoimmune laboratory testing in achieving ISO 15189 accreditation and could bring this branch of autoimmunity closer to other immunometric assays and their well-established rules (64,65,(67)(68)(69). To this end, it is the responsibility of the laboratory autoimmunologist to evaluate and control all the variables that have a potential impact on the total processing of the HEp-2 IIF test (70,71). In this context, neither pre-analytical variables such as the type and degree of suspected pathology underlying test request, nor analytical (errors in the washing or dispensing of reagents), or post-analytical ones (expression of results and introduction of interpretative notes in the report through the laboratory information system) should be neglected.…”

Section: Quality Assessementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Standardization and Quality Assessment Under the Perspective of Automated Computer-Assisted HEp-2 Immunofluorescence Assay Systems

Cinquanta

Bizzaro

2021

Front. Immunol.

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The recent availability of automated computer-assisted diagnosis (CAD) systems for the reading and interpretation of the anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) test performed with the indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) method on HEp-2 cells, has improved the reproducibility of the results and initiated a process of harmonization of this test. Furthermore, CAD systems provide quantitative expression of fluorescence intensity, allowing the introduction of objective quality control procedures to the monitoring of the entire process. The calibration of the reading systems and the automated image interpretation are essential prerequisites for obtaining reproducible and harmonized IIF test results and form the basis for standardization, regardless of the computer algorithms used in the different systems. The use of automated CAD systems, facilitating control procedures, represents a step forward for the quality certification of the laboratory.

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Autoantibody profiling in autoimmune rheumatic diseases: How research may translate into clinical practice

Bizzaro

Cinquanta

Tozzoli³

2023

Translational Autoimmunity

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The clinical and the laboratory autoimmunologist: Where do we stand?

Cited by 10 publications

References 49 publications

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Appropriateness of Diagnostic Pathways of Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Appropriateness of Diagnostic Pathways of Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases

Standardization and Quality Assessment Under the Perspective of Automated Computer-Assisted HEp-2 Immunofluorescence Assay Systems

Autoantibody profiling in autoimmune rheumatic diseases: How research may translate into clinical practice

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