PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Jaclyn Keightley
AU  - Jo Walsh
AU  - Ruth M Bland
TI  - How to use autoantibodies in suspected paediatric rheumatic disease
AID  - 10.1136/archdischild-2021-323212
DP  - 2022 Aug 01
TA  - Archives of disease in childhood - Education & practice edition
PG  - 236--241
VI  - 107
IP  - 4
4099  - http://ep.bmj.com/content/107/4/236.short
4100  - http://ep.bmj.com/content/107/4/236.full
SO  - Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed2022 Aug 01; 107
AB  - Autoantibodies can be an important indicator of paediatric rheumatic disease and useful in establishing a diagnosis. However, autoantibodies may be requested in cases where the patient does not have clinical features strongly suggestive of a rheumatic disease. This can lead to further unnecessary investigations, specialist referral and undue anxiety for the family. The aim of this article is to provide guidance for when it is appropriate to request autoantibodies, which ones to perform and how to interpret the results.