Insights to Clinical Use of Serial Determination in Titers of Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Autoantibodies

Toshiaki Kogure,Hiroshi Fujinaga,Katsutoshi Terasawa,Takeshi Tatsumi,Atsushi Niizawa

doi:10.1155/2007/12367

Toshiaki Kogure, Hiroshi Fujinaga + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2007/12367

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Abstract

Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody is a useful marker for the diagnosis and prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recently, clinical significance of follow-up in anti-CCP antibody titer has been pointed out. Thus, we investigated the serial determination in anti-CCP antibodies titer in RA patients. Six patients with RA, who were followed up for longer than 5 years, were assessed in anti-CCP antibodies and radiographs (Larsen score). Anti-CCP antibodies in frozen sera were measured using ELISA. As a result, 6 patients with RA were divided into two groups: one possessed high titers without variation, and the other was without high titers. Joint damage progressed during observation in 2 out of 3 patients with high anti-CCP titers in a retrospective assessment. In contrast, the RA patient, whose anti-CCP titer decreases although it had been high titer at baseline, did not show increase in the Larsen score. These findings suggest that it might be necessary to analyze changes in anti-CCP to predict the prognosis of joint destruction.

Highlights

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by progressive cartilage erosion and destruction
We retrospectively investigated the association between variations in anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) titers and the progression of joint damage in our RA patients, who had not been treated with anti-TNFalpha drugs and tacrolimus hydrate
Anti-CCP was positive in 94.7% of the patients with RA and negative in 88.8% of the patients with other autoimmune diseases except for RA

Summary

Introduction

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by progressive cartilage erosion and destruction. It has been reported that serially determined anti-CCP performs better than baseline determination for predicting radiographic progression in patients with RA [4]. Anti-CCP antibody was detected in sera obtained from 6 RA patients who were followed up for 5 years.

Results

Conclusion