Screening for antibodies against the Ku antigen is performed in patients with the potential for polymyositis, dermatomyositis, and overlap syndrome.
Antibodies against the Ku protein are associated with scleroderma/polymyositis overlap syndrome, but may in some cases be detected in other pathological conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's syndrome, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and inflammatory myositis. The Ku antibodies are often detected together with antibodies against the SSA / Ro antigen. The presence of Ku antibodies in inflammatory myopathy is unclear.
