Autoimmunity and laboratory testing for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and allied diseases.

Thus, we can see that in our prototype autoimmune disease SLE, many different autoantibodies can be present. The laboratory tests for detecting these antibodies are important in the diagnosis and management of this group of diseases. Current research has focused on the defective T suppressor cell function, and the recent exciting developments in this area are certain to open up new laboratory approaches for studying these diseases.