Immunology

This segment focuses on investigating the humoral components of the immune system, primarily studying immunoglobulins and elements of the complement system. Additionally, it involves the determination of acute phase reactants and other proteins.

- Study of monoclonal gammopathies: proteinogram, immunofixation, immunotyping, quantification of the monoclonal component, free light chains.

- Study of quantitative alterations of immunoglobulins, present in humoral and combined immunodeficiencies, and due to overproduction (myeloma, hyper IgG4, allergy) by means of nephelometry and fluoroenzymeimmunoassay.

- Study of qualitative alterations of immunoglobulins, such as cryoglobulins, the study of monoclonal bands by immunotyping and immunofixation and quantitative monitoring of the monoclonal component.

- Study of multiple sclerosis markers, with determination of IgG oligoclonal bands using isoelectroencephalography.

- Study of the complement system: C3, C4, Factor B, C1-inhibitor, C1q, CH50.

- Study of the vaccinal response for the diagnosis of primary immunodeficiency of anticoagulants: serum concentration of specific IgG anticoagulants against T-independent and T-dependent antigens.

- Studies in allergy:

o IgE specific to allergy extracts and recombinant allergens (fluoroenzymeimmunoassay).

o IgG specific to fungal and avian antigens (fluoroenzymeimmunoassay).

o Multiparametric analysis of specific IgEs (ISAC).

o Basophil activation test (flow cytometry).

o Serum tryptase.

The primary objective of this functional group is the qualitative and quantitative assessment of circulating autoantibodies. This process is crucial for diagnosing and monitoring both organ-specific and systemic autoimmune diseases, employing a variety of methodologies.

· Indirect immunofluorescence on different tissues or cell lines.

· Enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA)

· Chemiluminescence Immunoassay (CLIA)

· Immunoblot The Autoimmunity functional group maintains a catalog of autoimmune pathology markers, aligned with those of reference hospitals in our environment. It encompasses 130 immunological parameters and includes, among others:

· Systemic autoimmune diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's syndrome, systemic sclerosis, antiphospholipid syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, spondylarthritis, vasculitis, myopathies.

· Nephropaties: Goodpasture's syndrome, renal vasculitis associated with anti-neutrophil cytoplasm anticoagulants (ANCA), membranous nephropathy.

· Autoimmune diseases of the digestive system: autoimmune hepatitis, sclerosing cholangitis, primary biliary cholangitis, atrophic gastritis (pernicious anaemia), coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease.

· Cutaneous immunopaties: pemphigus, pemphigoid.

· Endocrinopathies: autoimmune diabetes, Graves' disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Addison's disease.

· Neurological immunopaties: autoimmune encephalitis, paraneoplastic syndromes, myastheniform syndromes, neuromyelitis optica spectrum syndrome (NMOSD). The monitoring of therapy with various biologic drugs involves quantifying the circulating drug and detecting anti-drug antibodies.

· Infliximab and anti-infliximab anticoagulants.

· Adalimumab and anti-Adalimumab anticoagulants.

· Ustekinumab and anti-Ustekinumab anticoagulants.

· Vedolizumab and anti-Vedolizumab anticoagulants.