Project Description |
Autoantibodies are directed against various molecules or complexes in the cell nucleus and are generally associated with a number of autoimmune diseases such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Sjogrens Syndrome and other mixed connective tissue diseases. However, these autoantibodies are also detectable in the healthy population. A number of target antigens for anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) have been well characterised and are considered markers of specific autoimmune diseases (i.e. La, Ro, Sm, dsDNA and the RNP complex). In addition, there are other ANAs routinely detected which do not have a characterised target antigen or disease association.
The aims of this study are to: • To examine patient morbidity (such as SLE, SS, myositis, scleroderma, rheumatic disease, liver disease, neuroimmunological disease and other autoimmune diseases) and related mortality with respect to age, gender, ANA level and ANA specificities
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