Biomarkers for Monitoring Therapeutic Effectiveness in Common Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune disease is a condition in which the immune system mistakenly damages healthy cells in the human body. There are different types of autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren’s syndrome, Type-I diabetes, autoimmune hepatitis, multiple sclerosis (MS), myasthenia gravis, etc. Biomarkers are used to determine disability progression, monitor ongoing disease activity, and measure treatment response. Thus, these biomarkers are required to decide the therapy for the treatment of autoimmune diseases. Different types of biomarkers, such as diagnostic biomarkers, prognostic biomarkers, predictive biomarkers, monitoring biomarkers, emerging biomarkers, etc., are used in the diagnosis and treatment of different autoimmune diseases. The ideal biomarker can act as a diagnostic tool and monitoring method to determine the efficacy of therapeutic agents. This chapter encompasses the types of autoimmune diseases and the classification of biomarkers in autoimmune diseases. It also includes applications of biomarkers in autoimmune diseases, as well as challenges and future prospects in biomarker research for autoimmune diseases. Furthermore, the integration of biomarker-based strategies into clinical practice is explored, emphasizing their utility in improving therapeutic outcomes and reducing adverse effects. This review highlights the importance of biomarker research in advancing the understanding and management of autoimmune diseases.