Proteomic: new advances in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.
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.
Tampoia
M
M
Laboratorio di Patologia Clinica I, Azienda Ospedaliera Policlinico, 70124 Bari, Italy. mtampoia@libero.it
Brescia
V
V
Fontana
A
A
Maggiolini
P
P
Zucano
A
A
Pansini
N
N
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D040901:Proteomics
D001323:Autoantibodies