Rheumatology labs

The bewildering array of serologic tests for connective tissue disease is nicely summarized in this update from Clinical Medicine and Research. I found what I believe to be one small error in the paper. The anti-Sm antibody, an anti-nuclear antibody highly specific for systemic lupus, is referred to incorrectly as “anti-smooth muscle” antibody. It actually stands for “anti-Smith antibody”. Anti-smooth muscle antibody, not relevant to this article, is used to test for certain forms of autoimmune hepatitis.