title: Autoantibody systems in rheumatoid arthritis: specificity, sensitivity and diagnostic value.
abstract: The diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is primarily based on clinical symptoms, so it is often difficult to diagnose RA in very early stages of the disease. A disease-specific autoantibody that could be used as a serological marker would therefore be very useful. Most autoimmune diseases are characterized by a polyclonal B-cell response targeting multiple autoantigens. These immune responses are often not specific for a single disease. In this review, the most important autoantibody/autoantigen systems associated with RA are described and their utility as a diagnostic and prognostic tool, including their specificity, sensitivity and practical application, is discussed. We conclude that, at present, the antibody response directed to citrullinated antigens has the most valuable diagnostic and prognostic potential for RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Nijmegen, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands. M.vanBoekel@bioch.kun.nl
authors.forename: Martinus A M
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: van Boekel
authors.forename: Erik R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Vossenaar
authors.forename: Frank H J
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: van den Hoogen
authors.forename: Walther J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: van Venrooij
mesh_terms: D000918:Antibody Specificity / Q000276:immunology*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000097:blood; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology; D002956:Citrulline / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D012698:Serologic Tests
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D002956:Citrulline