title: [A new marker for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis: cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP)].
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the most common autoimmune diseases, affecting about 1% of the world population. Rapid diagnosis and early treatment are important to control the progression of the disease. The most commonly used test for the serological diagnosis of suspected RA cases is the determination of rheumatoid factor (RF). RF is a sensitive but not very specific marker for RA. Of 40-60% RA patients also exhibit autoantibodies against epidermal flaggrin (RA keratin, anti-perinuclear antibody) in the serum. In the recent years, it has been shown that a rarely found amino acid citrulline, which is present in flaggrin, is a substantial component of the antigenic epitope. Enzyme immunoassays which use synthetic cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) as the target antigen, offer a useful alternative to indirect immunofluorescence methods. Antibodies against CCP are predominantly of class IgG and are of diagnostic importance as a new specific marker especially during the initial stages of RA. In this review, the value of anti-CCP for the serodiagnosis of RA has been discussed.
authors.affiliation: Kocatepe Universitesi Tip Fakültesi, Mikrobiyoloji ve Klinik Mikrobiyoloji Anabilim Dali, Afyon.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Altindiş
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002956:Citrulline / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D002956:Citrulline