Methods are provided for diagnosing and/or characterizing chronic immune
disease activity in a subject. In the subject methods, a sample is
obtained from a subject suspected of having or known to have a chronic
immune disease. The sample is then assayed for the presence of low
molecular actin fragments. The assay results are used to diagnose the
presence of chronic immune disease activity and/or characterize chronic
immune disease activity in the subject, e.g. to confirm an initial
chronic immune disease diagnosis, to determine the stage of the disease,
to monitor disease progression, to predict disease attacks, and the like.
Also provided by the subject invention are kits for practicing the
methods.