Age-related diagnostic utility of rheumatoid factor, anticyclic citrullinated peptide and antikeratin antibodies in Chinese patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
Retrospective study to evaluate the diagnostic utility of rheumatoid factor (RF), anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) and antikeratin antibodies (AKA) in a broad age range of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
Clinical and serological data from patients with RA were collected and analysed. Patients were stratified according to age (<16 years [juvenile idiopathic arthritis; JIA], 16-40 years; 41-60 years and >60 years) and sex.


RESULTS
The study included 3725 patients. There were no significant sex-related differences in rates of RF, ACPA or AKA positivity. RF, ACPA and AKA positivity were significantly less common in patients aged <16 years than those aged ≥ 16 years. There were no other significant differences between age groups.


CONCLUSIONS
RF, ACPA and AKA have better diagnostic value for RA in adult patients than in patients with JIA. A combination of RF, ACPA and AKA serological testing may be a useful diagnostic tool for RA in Chinese adults.
Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China Genetic Diagnostic Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
Jinpiao
J
Lin
Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China Genetic Diagnostic Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
Can
C
Liu
Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China Genetic Diagnostic Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
Bin
B
Yang
Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China Genetic Diagnostic Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China ouqishuify@163.com.
Qishui
Q
Ou
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology; D044466:Asian People; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007633:Keratins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C487763:cyclic citrullinated peptide; D007633:Keratins; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor
Rheumatoid arthritis; anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibody; antikeratin antibody; rheumatoid factor