Histone Antibody - Book Test at Low Cost

Generally, histone antibodies are a type of autoantibody. These are autoantibodies that are made by an individual's innate immunity which is directed against their histones. Histones are proteins that are a component of chromatin, the hereditary substance found in practically every one of the body's cellular' nuclei. Histones are present inside cells, hence a strike on the "self" might have effects on the entire body.

What is Histone Antibodies test?

This examination looks for histone antibodies within the body's blood. One form of antinuclear antibody is histone autoantibodies (ANA). ANA has been linked to several autoimmune diseases. Drug-induced lupus erythematosus is a kind of lupus that can be brought on by drugs, which can boost certain person's creation of histone antibodies. The prevalence of histone antibodies in drug-induced lupus patients can reach up to 95%.

Several medicines have been linked to drug-induced lupus among certain individuals. Hydralazine, Isoniazid, Procainamide, Quinidine, Penicillamine, and Minocycline are a few of the most prevalent instances. Anti-seizure medications, antibiotics, anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drugs, blood pressure meds, interferon-alpha, thyroid medications, and methyldopa are some other kinds of medications linked to drug-induced lupus.

Especially in a patient who is on one of the drugs described above, testing for histone antibodies is largely implemented to enhance diagnoses of drug-induced lupus. Screening is used to differentiate between drug-induced lupus and other types of lupus, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), other autoimmune conditions, or other potential causes of a patient's symptoms. Despite not being definitive, its existence is congruent with the prognosis of drug-induced lupus.

When is this test required?

When a patient takes a medicine for a few days to a few years and exhibits indications that may be related to drug-induced lupus, a histone antibody check is requested. This is particularly true if the affected person has no familial or personal history of such an autoimmune illness. Fatigue, discomfort similar to arthritis (but without or with minimal joint inflammation), fever, malar rash, hypersensitivity to sunshine, muscular pain (myalgia), and losing weight are possible symptoms.

SLE can cause symptoms and consequences that affect the central nervous system (CNS) and kidneys, whereas drug-induced lupus far less frequently does. A diagnosis cannot be made only based on a positive histone antibody test. Histone antibodies are present in about 50% of SLE patients, albeit they are typically not brought on by a particular medication.

Even if the test yields a negative outcome, drug-induced lupus is still possible as the cause of the person's symptoms and signs, but it also opens up other possibilities.