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Interpretation: use of autoantibodies in children
  1. Hayley King1,2,
  2. Antonis Tofias3,
  3. Abbie Greenhill2,
  4. Aidan Grimes2,
  5. Khuen Foong Ng4
  1. 1 Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Bristol, UK
  2. 2 Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
  3. 3 Royal Surrey County Hospital, Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Guildford, UK
  4. 4 Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Bristol, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Hayley King, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK; hevans{at}doctors.org.uk

Abstract

Judicious use of autoantibodies in paediatrics can be challenging. Autoimmune conditions can present with a wide range of signs and symptoms, many of which are non-specific. In combination with clinical features and laboratory findings, autoantibodies can facilitate diagnosis and in certain cases inform prognosis. Evidence for use of autoantibodies to guide and monitor treatment is limited. Caution is necessary when interpreting adult studies. We summarise the use of autoantibodies in paediatric practice with a guide on how they may be used.

  • Allergy and Immunology
  • Paediatrics
  • Child Health
  • Primary Health Care

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Footnotes

  • HK and AT are joint first authors.

  • HK and AT contributed equally.

  • Contributors Conceptualisation: KFN; methodology: KFN, HK and AT; data curation, formal analysis and validation: KFN, HK, AbG, AiG and AT; original draft preparation, review and editing: KFN, HF, AbG, AiG and AT; supervision: KFN; project administration: KFN.

  • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.