title: Proteomic: new advances in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the joints. A number of novel treatment modalities have been introduced over the past years, and rheumatologists are now attempting to institute optimal treatment in recent-onset arthritis. To facilitate diagnosis during the early stages of disease, when often not all clinical symptoms are manifest, a good serological marker is needed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Antibodies directed to citrullinated proteins provide this ability. The most sensitive assay for detecting these antibodies is the so-called anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide, second generation (CCP II) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The diagnostic and prognostic potential of anti-CCP antibodies and the availability of a fully automated assay method lead us to conclude that the test is satisfactory for routine use as a serological marker of RA. In addition, we consider the potential of multiplex autoantibody assays, including miniaturized, high-throughput microarray technology, to improve diagnosis and prognostication in early onset arthritis patients.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Patologia Clinica I, Azienda Ospedaliera Policlinico, 70124 Bari, Italy. mtampoia@libero.it
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tampoia
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brescia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maggiolini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zucano
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pansini
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D040901:Proteomics
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies