五联检测对类风湿性关节炎诊断的临床价值分析

目的:探讨抗CCP抗体、类风湿因子(RF)、ASO、CRP、ESR联合检测对类风湿性关节炎(RA)诊断的临床价值.方法:收集72例RA患者和85例非RA自身免疫性疾病患者的血清,对RA患者和非RA患者均采用透射比浊法测定RF、CRP和ASO,采用ELISA方法测定抗CCP抗体,采用魏氏法测定血沉.结果:RA患者组中的抗CCP抗体、RF、CRP的阳性率分别为68.1％、611％和73.6％,明显高于非RA组；抗CCP抗体、RF、CRP对RA的敏感性分别为68.1％、611％和73.6％,RF的敏感性较抗CCP抗体和CRP稍低；特异性抗CCP抗体为94.1％,RF为812％,CRP为60.0％,经统计学检验,抗CCP抗体的敏感性与RF、CRP无统计学差异,其特异性比RF和CRP都高；ASO和ESR在RA组的阳性率分别为20.8％和30.6％,在非RA组的阳性率分别为23.5％和22.4％,其两组结果相比无统计学差异；联合检测抗CCP抗体、RF、CRP、ASO和ESR与联合检测抗CCP抗体、RF和CRP对RA诊断的敏感性和特异性无统计学差异.结论:抗CCP抗体对RA的诊断具有较高的敏感性和特异性,联合检测抗CCP抗体、RF和CRP,已满足进一步提高对RA的临床诊断；ASO对RA的诊断意义不大,可作为了解RA病人是否感染链球菌的的指标;ESR是一个急性时相反应指标,对RA的论断价值也不大.     

血清标志物在类风湿关节炎早期诊断中的临床价值

目的探讨血清中抗环瓜氨酸抗体(CCP)、抗突变型瓜氨酸波形蛋白抗体(MCV)、葡萄糖6磷酸异构酶抗原(GPI)、类风湿因子(RF)、基质金属蛋白酶3(MMP-3)、抗RA33、血清淀粉样蛋白A(SAA)在类风湿关节炎(rheumatoid arthritis,RA)早期诊断中的意义。方法选取早期RA患者160例、非RA风湿病患者100例、健康体检者100例,检测其血清中7种血清标志物的浓度,统计各指标阳性率,对所有数据进行统计学分析。结果早期RA组血清中抗CCP、抗MCV、GPI抗原、RF、MMP-3、抗RA33、SAA平均水平显著高于非RA风湿病组和健康体检组水平(P0.05)。3组间各阳性率比较,差异具有统计学意义(P 0.05)。早期RA组抗MCV的敏感度最高(86.25%),其次为抗CCP (83.50%)、GPI抗原(83.50%)和RF(81.00%);结合特异度、Youden指数、阳性预测值和阴性预测值得出,单项抗CCP、抗MCV、GPI抗原、RF对早期RA的诊断能力较好,MMP-3中等,抗RA33和SAA较差。抗CCP、抗MCV、GPI抗原、RF 4项联合检测特异度最高(99.50%)。结论抗CCP抗体、抗MCV抗体、GPI抗原、RF单项检测对早期RA的诊断能力较好,4项指标联合检测有助于早期RA的诊断和鉴别诊断。     

50例绝经后高疾病活动期的女性类风湿关节炎骨密度的临床观察

目的观察绝经后高疾病活动期的女性类风湿关节炎患者骨矿物质密度水平的变化。方法收集50例绝经后女性RA患者一般临床资料,包括年龄、RA病程、绝经年龄、ESR、CRP、RF、抗CCP抗体、DSA28评分及雌二醇水平,应用双能X线吸收法(DXA)测定50例患者腰椎L_(1-4)和左髋关节部位的骨密度,分析其骨密度(BMD)的情况。结果 1.50例绝经后女性RA的DSA28评分大于5.1,属高疾病活动期,骨质疏松组发生率52%;远高于骨量减少组(30%)及骨密度正常组(18%)。2.骨质疏松组的绝经年龄比非骨质疏松组明显提前(P=0.005),抗CCP抗体水平明显升高(P=0.037),有统计学意义,但在年龄、病程、RF、DSA28评分及雌激素方面两者无统计学差异。3.Logistic回归分析结果显示抗CCP抗体(OR值1.025,P=0.041)是绝经后高疾病活动女性RA骨质疏松的独立危险因素。4.骨质疏松组,腰椎总骨密度较髋关节显著降低(P0.001);腰椎组内比较以腰1椎体BMD最低,而后依次为腰2,腰3、腰4(P=0.0003),左髋关节组内比较以大转子BMD最低,而后依次为股骨颈、小转子(P0.0001)。结论绝经后高疾病活动期的女性RA患者存在明显的骨质疏松,以腰椎骨密度(特别L_1)下降最明显;抗CCP抗体可能是高疾病活动期的女性类RA患者发生骨质疏松的危险因素。     

类风湿关节炎患者并发骨质疏松的临床研究

目的探讨类风湿关节炎(RA)患者骨密度(BMD)的变化和骨质疏松(OP)的发生情况及其与临床指标的相关性。方法 采用双能X线骨密度仪,测量了105例RA患者的腰椎和股骨颈的骨矿含量,并同时测定关节功能、X线分期、关节压痛数和肿胀数、C反应蛋白(CRP)、抗链球菌溶血素"O"(ASO)、血清类风湿因子(RF)、血沉(ESR)、抗瓜氨酸肽抗体(CCP)、血钙、磷、碱性磷酸酶等指标。结果105例RA患者中骨质疏松的发生率是47%,RA患者中OP组与非OP组比较在年龄(P0.001),病程(P0.01),ESR(P0.05),Ca(P0.05),AKP(P0.01),关节功能(P0.05)均具有显著差异,关节压痛数和肿胀数及RF、CRP、CCP、P、ASO、X线分期等指标比较无差异。RA患者中激素组与非激素组间发生率的比较差异有显著性(X2=11.021,OR=4.189,P=0.001)。股骨颈与腰椎BMD比较显示激素组与非激素组间均具有明显差异(P0.01)。激素使用小剂量组OP发生较非小剂量组多(P0.01),激素长时间用药组较短时间用药组的OP发生多(P0.01)。RA患者中免疫抑制剂组与非免疫抑制剂组间引起OP的比较无差异(X2=0.536 OR=1.333,P=0.464)。结论 确诊为RA的患者应进行BMD检测,以了解骨矿含量,在RA治疗过程中需早期发现、早期预防骨质疏松的发生。     

类风湿关节炎继发骨质疏松症相关影响因素的Logistic回归分析

目的探讨类风湿关节炎患者继发骨质疏松症(osteoporosis,OP)的情况及相关影响因素。方法选择80例类风湿关节炎(rheumatoid arthritis,RA)患者,采用双能X线骨密度仪测定前臂、腰椎L1～4、股骨颈、Ward’s区的骨密度(bone mineral density,BMD),根据BMD将患者分为骨量正常组35例、骨量减少组26例和骨质疏松组19例。采用放射免疫法测定骨代谢指标,包括骨钙素(osteocalcin,OC)、Ι型胶原交联蛋白羧基末端肽(sputum collagen cross-linking protein carboxy terminal peptide,SCTX)、骨特异性碱性磷酸酶(bone-specific alkaline phosphatase,BAP),并同时测定RA患者相关指标,包括C反应蛋白(Creactive protein,CRP)、类风湿因子(rheumatoid factor,RF)、血沉(erythrocyte sedimentation rate,ESR)。采用Logistic回归分析RA患者继发骨质疏松症的影响因素。结果女性、骨折史、老龄、使用糖皮质激素史、病程、RF为RA继发OP的危险因素,体重指数为RA继发OP的保护因素。结论性别、年龄、使用糖皮质激素史和既往骨折史为RA患者继发骨质疏松症的显著影响因素,且骨质疏松的严重程度与病程长短、疾病活动程度等有关。     

绝经后类风湿关节炎女性骨吸收与放射学进展相关

目的探讨绝经后类风湿关节炎(rheumatoid arthritis,RA)患者骨代谢指标与疾病活动指标、骨矿物质密度(bone mineral density,BMD)和放射学进展的相互关系。方法本研究共募集了68例绝经后RA患者。血清检测指标包括红细胞沉降率(ESR)、C反应蛋白(CRP)、类风湿因子(RF)和抗环胍氨酸肽抗体(CCP)。同时检测了钙、维生素D、骨碱性磷酸酶(BAP)和β胶原特殊序列(β-crosslaps)的水平。采用双能X线骨吸收仪(DXA)测量腰椎和左股骨颈的BMD(g/cm2)。DAS28和Sharp评分分别用于计算疾病活动度和放射学进展评估。运用Spearman相关分析对临床血清标记和疾病指标的相关性进行分析。结果纳入患者的异常BMD比率为94.12%,其中29.41%(20/68)为骨量减少,而64.71%(44/68)为骨质疏松。ESR、CRP和DAS28之间显著相关(P0.05),均提示疾病活动。血清β-crosslaps水平与任一疾病活动指标均无相关性(p均0.05),但与Sharp评分呈正相关(r=0.776,P=1×10-6)。结论绝经后RA患者骨量减少及骨质疏松现象突出,可能与疾病活动和/或关节结构破坏有关。β-crosslaps是与放射学进展相关而与疾病活动无关的有价值的血清标记。     

类风湿关节炎寒热证候与血清维生素D的关系

目的探讨类风湿关节炎(rheumatoid arthritis,RA)寒热证候与维生素D的关系。方法收集RA患者72例,其中热证42例,寒证30例。同期确诊为强直性脊柱炎(ankylosing spondylitis,AS)的患者30例,健康人40例。收集患者的血沉(ESR)、C反应蛋白(CRP)、血清维生素D浓度、疼痛视觉模拟评分(Visual analogue scale,VAS)、28个关节疾病活动度(DAS28)等资料,分析各指标在RA寒热证候中的差异。结果 RA中存在维生素D缺乏和不足的比例分别为45.8%和41.7%,其比例显著高于健康人(P0.01);RA组维生素D水平低于AS组和健康组(P0.01);RA热证组维生素D水平低于寒证组(P0.01);RA维生素D水平与RA病程、CRP、DAS28评分、RF、抗CCP之间无明显相关性(P0.05)。结论 RA患者普遍存在维生素D的不足或缺乏,其浓度与RA寒热证候有关,RA热证组维生素D水平低于寒证组,提示维生素D浓度降低是RA热证的客观表现。     

血清阴性类风湿关节炎3例并文献复习

类风湿关节炎(rheumatoid arthritis,RA)是一种以侵蚀性关节炎为主要表现的全身性自身免疫性疾病.近年来,多种研究表明,RA 患者体内存在多种自身抗体,例如类风湿因子(RF)、抗角蛋白抗体(AKA)、抗核周因子(APF)及抗环瓜氨酸肽抗体(抗CCP 抗体)等.RA 是一种异质性疾病,一部分患者RF 和...     

类风湿关节炎患者血清骨代谢标志物水平及炎症因子变化研究

目的探讨类风湿关节炎(rheumatoid arthritis,RA)患者血清骨代谢标志物水平及炎症因子的变化。方法收集RA患者60例和健康对照者20名,再将60例RA患者按照是否合并骨质疏松(osteoporosis,OP)分为OP组(32例)和非OP组(28例)。采用双能X射线骨密度测量仪测骨密度,酶联免疫吸附法测定外周血清白细胞介素(interleukin,IL)-1β、IL-6、IL-17、I型前胶原N-末端前肽(N-terminal propeptide of type I collagen,PINP)、I型胶原C-末端交联顶端肽(type I collagen cross-linked Ctelopeptide,CTX)水平,并详细记录临床、实验室资料。对两组间计量资料采取独立样本t检验进行比较,采用Pearson积差相关法进行相关性分析。结果 (1)RA组与对照组相比,其骨密度、PINP水平普遍较低(P0.05);CTX、IL-1β、IL-17、IL-6水平普遍较高(P0.05)。(2)与非OP组相比,OP组的年龄、病程、IL-1β、IL-17、IL-6水平普遍较高(P0.05),OP组患者CTX、PINP水平虽然高于非OP组,但差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。(3)RA患者外周血血清中IL-1β与红细胞沉降率(erythrocyte sedimentation rate,ESR)成正相关(r=0.423,P0.05),IL-6与C反应蛋白(C-reactive protein,CRP)、ESR、类风湿关节炎患者病情评价(DAS28评分)成正相关(r=0.473、0.370、0.481,P0.05);IL-17与CRP、ESR、DAS28成正相关(r=0.411、0.367、0.468,P0.05);CTX与疾病活动性指标CRP、ESR、DAS28呈正相关(r=0.536、0.488、0.466,P0.05),与病程呈负相关(r=-0.268,P0.05);PINP水平与各疾病活动性指标间均无相关性(P0.05)。结论 RA患者存在较高的OP发生率,且合并OP患者IL-1β、IL-17、IL-6高于未合并OP患者,RA患者中继发OP作用机制可能与炎症因子IL-1β、IL-6、IL-17相关;CTX和PINP与疾病活动和OP密切相关,测定这两个骨代谢指标能够了解RA患者早期骨破坏程度。     

细胞因子白细胞介素-6及胰岛素生长样因子-1与类风湿关节炎临床表现的关联性研究

目的研究白细胞介素-6(interleukin-6,IL-6)及胰岛素样生长因子-1(insulin-like growth factor-1,IGF-1)与类风湿关节炎(rheumatoid arthritis,RA)临床表现的关联性。方法采用酶联吸附免疫法(enzyme linked immunosorbent assay,ELISA)测定RA患者血清IL-6及IGF-1浓度,分析其于RA临床表现的关联性。结果1.骨质疏松组IGF-1水平明显低于无骨质疏松组(P0.05)。而男性组与女性组、RF阳性组与阴性组、ACCP阳性组与阴性组、无+轻度贫血与中度+重度贫血、白细胞减少与白细胞不减少、血小板升高与无血小板升高之间均无显著性差异(P0.05)。2.IGF-1与ACCP滴度、RF滴度、病程、ESR、年龄、CRP均无相关性(P0.05),与疼痛关节数及肿胀关节数呈负相关(P0.05)。3.男性RA患者IL-6水平明显比女性RA患者水平低(P0.05),ACCP阴性组明显比阳性组低(P0.05),骨质疏松组明显比无骨质疏松组低(P0.05)。而RF阳性组与阴性组、无+轻度贫血与中度+重度贫血、白细胞减少与白细胞不减少、血小板升高与无血小板升高之间均无显著性差异。(P0.05)。4.IL-6水平与ACCP滴度、疼痛关节数及肿胀关节数呈正相关(P0.05),与IGF-1水平呈负相关(P0.05),与RF滴度、病程、ESR、年龄、CRP均无相关性(P0.05)。结论IL-6及IGF-1与RA病情活动有关。女性患者Il-6高,易于发生骨质疏松     

血清骨代谢标记物对预测类风湿关节炎关节破坏的意义

目的：探讨血清骨代谢标记物与RA患者关节破坏的相关性。方法选取140例住院RA患者,90例同期健康人作为研究对象。采用DEXA测定RA者腰椎（ L1～L4）及股骨上端骨密度值,根据T值分为正常骨量、低骨量、骨质疏松组3组;另根据双手X线结果显示关节破坏程度分为Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ期组;同时检测患者血清CTX、25（ OH） D、TRACP－5b、PTH、血钙、血磷、抗CCP抗体、RF、CRP、ESR。结果 RA组TRACP－5b、CTX水平明显高于健康对照组（Z＝－2．747,－4．809,P＜0．01）,25（OH）D水平明显低于健康对照组（Z＝－6．152,P＜0．001）;TRACP－5b与病程、关节压痛个数、CTX呈正相关（r＝0．193, r＝0．189, r＝0．196,P＜0．05）,随着疾病活动度的加重,TRACP－5b水平呈现递增趋势,且骨质疏松组TRACP－5b水平高于正常骨量组,但未达统计学差异;CTX与关节肿胀个数、25（OH）D呈正相关（r＝0．215, r＝0．192,P＜0．05）,其水平在疾病重度活动组明显高于中低度组;X线Ⅰ期组患者与其他各组相比年龄较小,病程较短,关节破坏程度轻;Ⅰ期、Ⅱ期组骨质疏松患病率明显低于Ⅲ期、Ⅳ期组（ P＜0．05）;骨量丢失随年龄增长、病程的延长、疾病活动度的加重而增加。结论骨代谢标记物与RA患者关节破坏有一定的相关性,联合检测多种骨代谢标记物可望预测关节破坏的程度。     

Optimizing rheumatoid arthritis treatment with rituximab--individualized patient approach

Disease activity assessment is a cornerstone of monitoring rheumatoid arthritis (RA) development and guidance for rituximab treatment. Beside clinical signs and symptoms biomarkers (RF and anti-CCP) are important early predictors of response to therapy and they can predict disease development. Autoantibody (RF and anti-CCP) seropositivity has been associated with positive response to rituximab (RTX) in antiTNF-IR patients, DMARD-IR patients and MTX-naive patients. Selecting therapy for TNF-IR patients providing most likely response it should be taken in consideration results form recently published assessments demonstrating for RTX treated patients significant improvement in DAS28 from baseline versus alternative TNF inhibitor treatment. Recently published NICE treatment guideline is recommending upon antiTNF failure RTX treatment (in combination with MTX) instead antiTNF cycling.     

Significance of Serum TRACP in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Human serum contains two related isoforms of TRACP: TRACP 5a and TRACP 5b. Serum TRACP 5a protein is increased in about one third of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) sera. This study was undertaken to examine the significance of serum TRACP isoforms 5a and 5b as disease markers of inflammation and bone destruction in RA. One hundred eighteen patients were recruited including 50 with RA (25 with nodules), 26 with osteoarthritis (OA), and 42 with other rheumatic diseases. Twenty‐six healthy adults served as controls. Serum TRACP 5a activity, TRACP 5a protein, and TRACP 5b activity were determined by in‐house immunoassays. C‐reactive protein (CRP) was determined by in‐house immunoassay using commercial antibodies and CRP. Other commercial markers included bone‐specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), C‐telopeptides of type‐I collagen (ICTP), cartilage glycoprotein‐39 (YKL‐40), and IgM rheumatoid factors (IgM‐RF). Mean TRACP 5a protein was significantly elevated only in RA compared with healthy controls and other disease groups. TRACP 5a protein correlated significantly only with IgM‐RF in RA. Among RA patients, mean TRACP 5a protein and IgM RF were significantly higher in nodule formers. In contrast, TRACP 5b activity was slightly elevated in RA and correlated with BALP, ICTP, and YKL‐40 but not with IgM‐RF or CRP. Mean TRACP 5b activity was no different in RA patients with or without nodules. TRACP isoforms could be useful disease markers in RA; TRACP 5a protein may be a measure of systemic inflammatory macrophage burden and disease severity. TRACP 5b activity is a marker for osteoclast number and perhaps local or systemic bone destruction.     

Remittent non-destructive polysynovitis in P-ANCA-positive vasculitis patients with anti-CCP antibodies

Patients with antineutrophil cytoplasm antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AASV) commonly suffer from arthralgias and, sometimes, polyarthritis during disease flares. Although rheumatoid factor (RF) can be detected in up to 37–50% of AASV patients, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies are rare. Herein, we describe the clinical features of five P-ANCA–positive vasculitis patients, who had persistent and/or high anti-CCP levels and, more importantly, suffered from remittent non-destructive arthralgias and polysynovitis, independently of the vasculitis course and without evidence of RA. Two were initially thought to have RA rather than microscopic polyangiitis and, at AASV diagnosis, all had kidney involvement and three had alveolar hemorrhages. With a median follow-up of 30 months, one suffered vasculitis relapses, preceded by polysynovitis, and others had remittent arthralgias and polysynovitis, while their vasculitides remained in remission. None of these patients had radiological destructive arthritis. We discuss the challenge of diagnosing these patients positive for anti-CCP and ANCA, and with dominant articular manifestations. AASV patients with anti-CCP antibodies may experience relapsing polysynovitis and non-erosive polyarthritis prior to vasculitis flares, but also independently of the vasculitis course, which is uncommon in AASV, and might represent a small subgroup of AASV patients.     

抗CCP、RF检测中国人群类风湿性关节炎诊断试验Meta分析

目的 采用诊断试验Meta分析综合评价抗环瓜氨酸肽抗体(CCP)和血清学指标类风湿因子(RF)筛查类风湿性关节炎(RA)的效果.方法 通过检索万方、维普、CNKI等数据库,获得有关抗CCP和RF诊断筛查RA的文献,提取相关数据;采用DPS6.5进行诊断试验Meta分析.结果 抗CCP的综合准确度为0.831,诊断优势比为24.154;RF的综合准确度为0.765,诊断优势比为10.540;抗CCP的诊断准确度高于RF(P＜0.01).结论 抗CCP诊断RA能获得较好的特异度,而RF诊断RA能获得较好的灵敏度;若能联合抗CCP和RF,对RA具有较高的诊断价值.     

Prospective cohort study of effects of infliximab on rheumatoid factor,anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies and antinuclear antibodies in patients with long-standing rheumatoid arthritis

BackgroundAntibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) and IgM rheumatoid factor (IgM-RF) are well-established serological markers for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Lupus-like disease with antinuclear antibodies (ANA) has been reported during TNFα antagonist therapy. Our objectives were to investigate the effect of infliximab therapy on these three autoantibodies in patients with established RA and to look for correlations linking IgM-RF and anti-CCP titres to a treatment response (defined as a good or moderate EULAR response) after 48 weeks of infliximab therapy.MethodsThirty-six patients with long-standing RA not responding to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) received intravenous infliximab (starting dose: 3 mg/kg) at 0, 2, and 6 weeks then at 8-week intervals, in combination with a DMARD. At baseline, week 24, and week 48, C-reactive protein (CRP) and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were determined and the disease activity score (DAS28) was calculated. Serum samples collected at the same time points were used to measure anti-CCP (commercial second-generation ELISA), IgM-RF (quantitative nephelometric assay), and ANA (indirect immunofluorescence in HEp2 cells). Correlations linking baseline autoantibody titres to changes in autoantibody levels were examined.ResultsAt baseline, tests were positive for anti-CCP in 31/36 (94.6%) patients, IgM-RF in 29/36 (80.5%) patients, and ANA in 16/36 (44%) patients. IgM-RF titres decreased significantly (p < 0.001), whereas anti-CCP showed little change (p = 0.053). ANA titres increased significantly (p < 0.001). The treatment response was not associated with changes in anti-CCP or IgM-RF titres during infliximab therapy (OR for a response in patients with a 50% anti-CCP decrease, 0.77 [95%CI, 0.16–3.58]; OR for a response in patients with a 50% IgM-RF decrease, 0.82 [95%CI, 0.16–4.13]).ConclusionsDuring infliximab therapy used to treat established RA, IgM-RF titres showed larger decreases than anti-CCP titres. Changes in IgM-RF and anti-CCP failed to correlate with the 48-week treatment response.     

What can we learn from the presence of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus?

BackgroundAnti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies have proved to be a specific marker for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the antibodies can also be detected in other rheumatic diseases, especially systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Recent studies have shown anti-CCP antibodies are associated with erosive arthritis in SLE patients. Since erosive arthritis is not common in SLE and many patients with non-erosive arthritis also have anti-CCP antibodies, the clinical significance of anti-CCP antibodies in SLE needs to be further studied.ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence and clinical significance of anti-CCP antibodies in Chinese SLE patients.MethodsSerum samples from 138 SLE patients were examined for anti-CCP with the second generation anti-CCP detection kit. The associations of anti-CCP with clinical and laboratory features, especially arthritis, in such SLE patients were analyzed.ResultsThe prevalence of anti-CCP was 13.8% (19/138) in Chinese SLE patients. Seventy of 138 SLE patients had experienced arthritis, of whom 14 patients were anti-CCP+. Significantly, anti-CCP antibodies were more frequently found in SLE patients with arthritis than without arthritis (20% vs 7.4%, P < 0.05). A statistical correlation between anti-CCP and rheumatoid factor (RF) was found in SLE patients with arthritis (r = 0.36, P = 0.002). The frequency of arthritis was significantly higher in SLE patients with anti-CCP than without (73.7% vs 47.1%,P < 0.05). Eight out of 138 SLE patients showed joint erosions on radiographs. When compared with anti-CCP? patients, erosive arthritis occurred more often in anti-CCP+ patients (35.7% vs 5.4%, P < 0.001). Interestingly, two patients without anti-CCP and RF who had erosive arthritis were anti-RA33 antibodies positive. All of 8 SLE patients with erosive arthritis in our study fulfilled 1987 ACR criteria for RA. With regard to other clinical and laboratory features, there were no differences between SLE patients with arthritis and without or between anti-CCP+ patients and anti-CCP- patients.ConclusionsAnti-CCP antibodies have a frequency of 13.8% in Chinese SLE patients and its presence is closely associated with the onset of arthritis and bone erosion.