The first section of this volume provides well structured protocols for autoantibody detection. Step-by-step procedures are accompanied by explanatory notes and comments, clear diagrams, line illustrations and excellent photo illustrations. Extensive literature references lead the way to further background information. The methods presented were validated by more than 40 leading laboratories active in sera analysis, which indicates that these methods have been found to be practically useful and lead to consistent inter-laboratory results: consensus in autoantibody detection.

Section A: Methods of Autoantibody Detection
This Section provides well structured protocols for autoantibody detection. Step-by-step procedures are accompanied by explanatory notes and comments, clear diagrams, line illustrations and excellent photo illustrations. Extensive literature references lead the way to further background information. The methods presented were validated by more than 40 leading laboratories active in sera analysis, which indicates that these methods have been found to be practically useful and lead to consistent inter-laboratory results: consensus in...

Many advances have occurred in the last 5 years especially in understanding genetic susceptibility factors, the role of immune response in chronic arthritis and the relationship between cellular processes that underlie inflammation and tissue damage. All these are dealt with in depth in the individual contributions. Genetics studies included illustrate how studies of HLA genes and genes controlling the autoantibody repertoire may be involved. Environmental factors are believed to be important and studies both in humans and in experimental models on the role of viral and bacterial agents are...