Diagnostic and prognostic biomarker discovery strategies for autoimmune disorders

Current clinical, laboratory or radiological parameters cannot accurately diagnose or predictdisease outcomes in a range of autoimmune disorders. Biomarkers which can diagnose atan earlier time point, predict outcome or help guide therapeutic strategies in autoimmunediseases could improve clinical management of this broad group of debilitating disorders.Additionally, there is a growing need for a deeper understanding of multi-factorialautoimmune disorders.Proteomic platforms offering a multiplex approach are more likely to reflect the complexityof autoimmune disease processes. Findings from proteomic based studies of three distinctautoimmune diseases are presented and strategies compared. It is the authors' view thatsuch approaches are likely to be fruitful in the movement of autoimmune disease treatmentaway from reactive decisions and towards a preventative stand point.