Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies in psoriatic arthritis--cross-sectional study and literature review.
BACKGROUND
Anti-CCP antibodies are detectable not only in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but also in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). It is possible those anti-CCP antibodies are associated with features of PsA and that these auto-antibodies are useful in distinguishing PsA from RA.


OBJECTIVE
to evaluate the prevalence and the associations of anti-CCP antibodies in PsA patients; to evaluate the usefulness of anti-CCP antibodies in distinguishing PsA from RA.


RESULTS
The inquiry was designed as a cross-sectional study of 41 PsA patients, 139 RA patients and 147 normal subjects, which recorded demographic data, disease activity and serology: rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-CCP antibodies. Five PsA patients (12.2%) were anti-CCP positive. Compared to anti-CCP negative PsA patients, anti-CCP positive PsA patients had a more frequently a polyarticular disease pattern (p = 0.005), they were more frequently treated with biologics (p = 0.015) and less frequently with classic disease-modifying drugs (p < 0.001). An optimal positive cutoff value for anti-CCP titer was determined (11.6 U/mL), over which it is highly probable that a known PsA patient actually has RA and psoriasis.


CONCLUSIONS
The more aggressive the disease of anti-CCP positive PsA patients indicates the need of a more intensive management regarding anti-rheumatic treatment and follow-up. Anti-CCP antibodies can be a useful tool in differentiating PsA from RA, especially in RA-like forms of PsA, which present no elements pertaining to spondyloarthropathies.
"Sfânta Maria" Clinical Hospital, Bucharest ; "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest.
C
C
Popescu
"Sfânta Maria" Clinical Hospital, Bucharest.
S
S
Zofotă
"Sfânta Maria" Clinical Hospital, Bucharest ; "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest.
V
V
Bojincă
"Sfânta Maria" Clinical Hospital, Bucharest ; "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest.
R
R
Ionescu
D000328:Adult; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D001323:Autoantibodies; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C487763:cyclic citrullinated peptide
anti-CCP antibodies; anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies; psoriatic arthritis