Novel diagnostic approaches and cost-benefit balance of treatment of immune-mediated and rare disease in the era of biologic drugs: lessons from the 15th Turin Congress on Immune Pathology and Orphan Disease.

The 15th Congress on Immune Pathology and Orphan Disease held in Turin, Italy, on January, 20–22, 2012, was especially dedicated to the following issues: The intriguing connections between immune-mediated diseases, immunodeficiencies and lymphoproliferative disorders and the rationale for innovative treatments; Novel diagnostic approaches to immunologic and rare diseases; The expanding role of videocapillaroscopy in the diagnosis and clinical monitoring of systemic sclerosis-related disorders; Identification criteria of high risk patients with antiphospholipid syndrome; Algorithms of treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with TNF antagonists; Cost–benefit balance of RA treatment in the era of biologic drugs.