| abstract |
A method of derivatising antibodies to expose carbohydrate chains so that the antibodies are capable of binding to immobilised IgG, such as agalactosyl IgG, is disclosed. The derivatised antibodies are useful in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions associated with immobilised IgG, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), in a preferred embodiment providing a non-invasive technique which can detect the immobilised IgG in situ, thereby assisting in the diagnosis or treatment of conditions associated with it, such as autoimmune disorders including rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis, Crohn's disease, type I insulin dependent diabetes, type II diabetes, sarcoidosis, erythema nodosum leprosum and tuberculosis, and especially in the diagnosis of erosive joint disease. |