Clinical immunology is the specialized study of disorders that occur when the immune system malfunctions. There are two different types of immune system disorders. Immunodeficiency occurs when the immune system fails to respond correctly, whereas autoimmunity occurs when the immune system overreacts by attacking the body, as in the case of systemic lupus erthematosus, the most common form of lupus. When the immune system attacks the body, this results in chronic inflammation that can occur in different body systems such as the blood cells, joints, kidneys, heart, skin and lungs. This disease affects women much more frequently than men, although why this occurs is unknown. This disorder was once considered a fatal disease, but with improved clinical laboratory immunology testing, early detection is possible so treatments can begin before permanent damage occurs.
Common symptoms of this disease include weight changes, fever and fatigue, hair loss, dry eyes, joint pain, skin lesions, shortness of breath and a butterfly-shaped rash that appears on the face, covering the bridge of the nose and the cheeks. The individual may also experience memory loss, anxiety and depression. If a physician suspects that a patient may have lupus they will follow the standard criteria that has been established by the American College of Rheumatology for diagnosing lupus. A positive diagnosis is determined when the patient meets 4 of the 11 outlined criteria. These include mouth sores, scaly rash, butterfly-shaped face rash, joint problems, sun-related rash, kidney disease, swelling around the heart or lungs, low blood count, neurological disorder, positive blood tests and positive antinuclear antibody tests.
Washington clinical laboratory immunology testing plays a vital role in the diagnosis of lupus disease. One such test, the antinuclear antibody test (ANA) can provide important information in indicating if the presence of these specific antibodies are being produced by the immune system. If the test is positive, this indicates that the immune system is stimulated, which is a good indicator that lupus or another type of autoimmune disease is present. When this test is positive, the doctor will refer the patient to a physician who specializes in autoimmune disorders. The specialist will order other important Washington clinical laboratory immunology tests to confirm the diagnoses. These may include a test that detects confirmatory antibodies in patients as well as antiphospholipid antibodies to detect if patients with this disorder are at risk of blood clot formation. If the specialist suspects that lupus is not the only disease present in the body, a sjogren's antibody test will be done for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis or other possible diseases. With early diagnosis and treatment, most patients with lupus are able to live a normal, active life.
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