A tered on the most commonly affected organ sys- tems. Most of these diseases are associated with a dis- rupted architecture and function. They result from the infiltration of immunocompetent cells such as T lympho- cytes, activation of residential cells, and tissue remodeling (1). In practice, assessing cellular reactivity requires the invasive interrogation of frequently inaccessible tissues. Many diseases in the spectrum of autoimmunity are also associated with production of circulating autoantibodies. Inno disease has their importance in clinical decision mak- ing been more apparent than in type I diabetes mellitus (2). Despite their frequent lack of disease specificity, several autoantibodies have become invaluable diagnostic mark- ers, and their levels are now routinely assessed by com- mercial laboratories. They have also been used to judge whether an individual might be at increased risk for de- veloping disease in the future. Therefore, their presence can allow stratification in those who might benefit from increased clinical surveillance. Monitoring many autoan- tibodies has become a mainstay of managing autoimmune diseases such as those affecting the thyroid, pancreas, and adrenal glands. Furthermore, they have the potential for use as biomarkers for assessing the responses to therapy.
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