The absence of antibodies to malaria and human immunodeficiency virus, and the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen as diagnostic markers of rheumatoid arthritis

Tropical rheumatology. Immunological aspects

The presence of auto-antibodies in infectious diseases continues to puzzle and provoke. It is hoped that sequencing studies in particular will yield further clues as to the role and mechanism of production of autoantibodies in infectious diseases. This, in turn, may also provide further insights into the role of auto-antibodies in auto-immune diseases. From a practical clinical viewpoint, the search for improved auto-antibody tests and new diagnostic markers with improved sensitivity and specificity must continue in the tropics. Until this is achieved, the results of auto-antibody tests in persons living in the tropics, persons from the tropics or patients with tropical infections, must be interpreted with caution.