[Relevant immunological profiles].

In 1980 more than 200,000 immunological tests were performed in the Section of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University Hospital, Zurich (Switzerland), a fact which raises the question whether the results warrant the effort involved. To answer this question of clinical relevance, 4 disease complexes have been investigated: lupus erythematodes, systemic affections dominated by arthralgia, hepatitis and thyroiditis. The analysis shows that no single factor but only an optimized set of tests is capable of distinguishing between related diseases. Follow-up studies are of prime importance because the sequence of antigen expression and antibody responses provides valuable additional information. Laboratory results can be evaluated only in conjunction with the clinical picture.