title: Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis and Behçet's disease.
abstract: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with progressive joint destruction and disability. Early diagnosis of RA is important, since early and aggressive treatments lead to a better outcome. Circulating autoantibodies are a serological hallmark of systemic rheumatic diseases. More recently, antibodies directed to a cyclic citrullinated peptide, anti-CCP antibodies, have been established as specific diagnostic and prognostic tools for RA. The aims of this study were to assess the diagnostic and radiological prognostic value of the anti-CCP antibody in Turkish patients with RA (n = 97) and those with Behçet's disease (BD) (n = 46). The study also included 35 healthy controls. Anti-CCP antibodies were measured by ELISA, and radiological damage was evaluated by using modified Larsen scoring. In the RA group, sensitivity and specificity were 80.4% and 93.5% for rheumatoid factor (RF), and 74.2% and 97.8% for anti-CCP antibody, respectively. RF was positive in 3 BD patients (6.5%) and in one of the controls (2.9%). In contrast, anti-CCP antibodies were detected in one BD patient (2.2%), but not in the control subjects. Deformed joint counts and radiographic scores were higher in anti-CCP antibody-positive RA patients (n = 72) than those in anti-CCP antibody-negative patients (n = 25) (p < 0.05). Moreover, anti-CCP antibody titer correlated with deformed joint count (r = 0.224, p < 0.05) and radiographic score (r = 0.308, p < 0.05). This study indicates the diagnostic and prognostic utility of anti-CCP antibodies in Turkish patients with RA. Importantly, anti-CCP antibodies are not associated with BD.
authors: Department of Rheumatology, Firat University, Faculty of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey. kocassk@yahoo.com
authors: Suleyman Serdar
authors: SS
authors: Koca
authors: Handan
authors: H
authors: Akbulut
authors: Sait
authors: S
authors: Dag
authors: Hakan
authors: H
authors: Artas
authors: Ahmet
authors: A
authors: Isik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C487763:cyclic citrullinated peptide