Predictive Value of Laboratory Assays Toward Autoimmune Diseases

Area of Science:

• Immunology and Rheumatology
• Clinical Laboratory Science

Background:

• Autoimmune diseases (AD) present significant unmet medical needs in the United States.
• Accurate and efficient diagnosis of AD is crucial for effective patient management.
• Understanding the diagnostic value of laboratory assays is essential for healthcare providers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether demographic factors and general laboratory test results can predict the presence of anti-ENA and anti-dsDNA antibodies in individuals with autoimmune disorders.
• To assess the utility of specific laboratory markers in the diagnostic pathways for autoimmune conditions.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective, nonexperimental study design was employed, analyzing data from 2018 to 2021.
• The study included 1495 individuals with positive anti-ENA antibodies and 1261 with positive anti-dsDNA antibodies.
• Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to identify predictive factors for antibody positivity.

Main Results:

• For anti-ENA prediction, antinuclear antibody (ANA), complement C3, globulin, monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were statistically significant (p < 0.001).
• The regression model for anti-ENA achieved 98.6% sensitivity and 16.1% specificity.
• For anti-dsDNA prediction, complement C3, complement C4, pH, urine protein, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were statistically significant (p < 0.001), with 77.7% sensitivity and 64.5% specificity.

Conclusions:

• ANA, complement C3, globulin, MLR, and BUN are important predictors for positive anti-ENA results in AD diagnosis.
• Complement C3, complement C4, pH, urine protein, and NLR are key factors in diagnosing Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) when anti-dsDNA is positive.