The pathologic role of autoantibodies in many autoimmune diseases is widely accepted. An enzyme
immunoassay was used for measurement of
antibodies against disease-specific
antigens and etiologic agents for cross-reactive antigens associated with them. This
antibody assay was applied to a panel of antigens for the
detection of different neuroautoimmune diseases that included
multiple sclerosis, motor peripheral neuropathies, multifocal motor neuropathy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcal infection. We studied women with pregnancies complicated by
neural tube defect, neuroborreliosis,
autism and
patients with possible somatic hypermutation. Antibodies were also measured against antigens and etiologic agents associated with primary biliary cirrhosis and
chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease. And, finally, antibodies were measured against several tumor antigens or peptides which are expressed in prostatic,
breast and colon tissues. This panel of different autoantibodies was applied to 290 patients with neuroautoimmune disorders,
cancer, and possible somatic hypermutation. The levels of these antibodies against different tissue-specific antigens and etiologic agents associated with them were significantly
elevated in patients versus controls. We hope that this novel 96 antigen-specific ELISA will be used in additional studies that will prove its clinical efficacy, not only for the early diagnosis of many neuroautoimmune, liver and lung autoimmune disorders, but also for prognosis and the implementation of preventive steps for many complex diseases.