Renate G. van der Molen

Antigen excess in modern immunoassays: to anticipate on the unexpected

Immunoassays measuring sera with high analyte concentration may be prone to an artifact that causes underestimation of the analyte concentration. This phenomenon is generally described as antigen excess or the prozone effect. Characteristically, serum with high concentrations of a certain analyte can give a false negative/low result when tested at the recommended dilution, but reacts strongly positive upon further dilution. Increased insight of the antigen excess mechanisms and tools to prevent it has reduced the analytical problems caused by prozone effects in daily laboratory practice. However, misinterpretation of laboratory results caused by antigen excess does still occur, in virtually any type of immunoassay. Awareness by the laboratory specialist of the mechanisms underlying antigen excess in the different immunoassays, strategies to detect it, and adequate communication with clinicians can help to avoid reporting false negative test-results.

Relatively Restricted Migration of Polyclonal IgG4 May Mimic a Monoclonal Gammopathy in IgG4-Related Disease

OBJECTIVES IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is an increasingly recognized syndrome of unknown etiology that can affect a wide variety of organs. The commonly shared features include tumor-like swelling of the involved organs, a lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate enriched with polyclonal IgG4-positive plasma cells, variable degree of fibrosis, and elevated serum concentrations of polyclonal IgG4. METHODS In a qualitative retrospective study, the electrophoretic characteristics of serum from patients with increased polyclonal IgG4 were studied to see if a reproducible pattern could be identified. RESULTS We demonstrate that a characteristic focal band bridging the β and γ fraction by serum protein electrophoresis may be a first serologic indication for IgG4-RD. We further demonstrate that significant κ:λ skewing can occur in the polyclonal IgG4 fraction. CONCLUSIONS The focal band detected by electrophoresis in sera from patients with IgG4-RD can be confirmed as polyclonal by immunofixation or immunosubtraction. Because these bands may be predominately of one light chain isotype, they could be misinterpreted as monoclonal gammopathies.

An international survey on anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) testing in daily clinical practice

Abstract Background: Detection of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) is important for the diagnosis of the ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV). For AAV, especially ANCA directed against myeloperoxidase (MPO) and proteinase 3 (PR3) are most relevant. ANCA with less well-defined specificities may, however, also be detected in other inflammatory and non-inflammatory conditions. Methods: A questionnaire, initiated by the European Autoimmunity Standardisation Initiative (EASI), was used to gather information on methods and testing algorithms used for ANCA in clinical laboratories of 12 European countries (EASI survey). Results: Four hundred and twenty-nine responses were included in the EASI survey analysis which revealed differences within countries and between countries. Laboratories overall were poor in adherence to international consensus on ANCA testing. Substantial variation was observed with respect to the use of ANCA indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) in the algorithm, application of distinct methods for MPO- and PR3-ANCA, the daily availability of new ANCA results, and interpretation of test results. Conclusions: Awareness of these differences may stimulate further harmonization and standardization of ANCA testing. This may be promoted by an update of the international ANCA consensus and the introduction of international standards.

Anti-SSA antibodies are present in immunoglobulin preparations

Anti‐SSA autoantibodies are among the most frequently detected autoantibodies and have traditionally been associated with Sjögrens syndrome (SjS) and systemic lupus erythematosus. The unexpected finding of anti‐SSA antibodies in a patient with common variable immunodeficiency disorder (CVID) treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), who developed discoid lupus erythematosus, prompted us to investigate the presence of anti‐SSA antibodies in IVIG preparations. Since anti‐SSA antibodies may be present in apparently healthy individuals without overt autoimmune features, IVIG preparations may also contain anti‐SSA antibodies.

Autoimmunity and B-cell dyscrasia in acute and chronic Q fever: A review of the literature

Q fever infection can lead to chronic Q fever, a potentially lethal disease occurring in 1-5% of patients infected with Coxiella burnetii, characterized by the persistence of this intracellular bacterium. It usually presents as endocarditis, infected vascular aneurysms, or infected vascular prostheses. This systematic review of the literature discusses the various autoimmune syndromes and B-cell dyscrasias in acute and chronic Q fever patients, that may interfere with or impede recognition and diagnosis of Q fever. Reportedly, high concentrations of anti-cardiolipin antibodies may be found in acute Q fever patients, while specifically cardiac muscle antibodies have been reported during chronic Q fever. Systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid syndrome are the most frequently reported autoimmune syndromes, followed by neuromuscular disorders and vasculitis. B-cell dyscrasia, mostly cryoglobulinaemia, is predominantly described in chronic Q fever patients with endocarditis. We conclude that immunological (epi)phenomena are not rare during Q fever and may obscure the infectious etiology of the disease.

Validation conform ISO-15189 of assays in the field of autoimmunity: Joint efforts in The Netherlands

ISO 15189:2012 requires validation of methods used in the medical laboratory, and lists a series of performance parameters for consideration to include. Although these performance parameters are feasible for clinical chemistry analytes, application in the validation of autoimmunity tests is a challenge. Lack of gold standards or reference methods in combination with the scarcity of well-defined diagnostic samples of patients with rare diseases make validation of new assays difficult. The present manuscript describes the initiative of Dutch medical immunology laboratory specialists to combine efforts and perform multi-center validation studies of new assays in the field of autoimmunity. Validation data and reports are made available to interested Dutch laboratory specialists.