Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

We analysed the presence of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) and anti-keratin (AKA) antibodies of the IgG class in sera of patients with defined juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) of various subgroups with more than one year duration of the disease. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Immunoscan RA, Eurodiagnostica, The Netherlands) and an indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) test on rat oesophagus substrate (ImmuGloTM, Immco Diagnostics, Buffalo, USA) were used for the detection and quantification of anti-CCP and AKA antibodies in 140 patients with JIA (64 male and 76 female) aged 2-47 years (median 16.5 years). Overall, anti-CCP were found in 7/140 (5.0%) patients including 3/52 RF negative polyarthritis, 2/18 RF positive polyarthritis, 1/15 enthesitis related arthritis and 1/5 unclassifiable arthritis. AKA were detected in 40/140 patients (28.6%, p = 0.04) including 2/11 systemic arthritis, 2/32 oligoarthritis, 18/52 patients with RF negative polyarthritis (34.6%, p = 0.01), 14/18 RF positive polyarthritis (77.8%, p = 0.000002), 2/15 enthesitis related arthritis and 2/3 psoriatic arthritis. While simultaneous negativity for AKA and anti-CCP occurred in most (97/140; 69.3%) studied cases, simultaneous antibody positivity was found only in few (4/140; 2.9%) studied samples. We conclude that while AKA measured using IIF on rat esophagus can be detected approximately in one third of patients with definite JIA with more than 1 year duration of the disease, only rare occurrence of anti-CCP was observed. We conclude that AKA seem to be partly useful to confirm JIA diagnosis, however, useless to follow-up severity or activity in JIA patients. Anti-CCP do not have any additional value in MA cohort in comparison to RA where their diagnostic and prognostic importance was reported.     

Comparison and relevance of rheumatoid factors, antikeratin antibodies and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVES: to evaluate specificity and sensibility of the rheumatoid factors (RF), the anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (CCP) and the anti-keratin antibodies (AKA) according to the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnosis; pathology other than RA with at least one of these marker positive; the significance of the flocculent fluorescence of the antibodies AKA by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF). METHOD: two hundred forty height patients were studied: 121 RA, 89 inflammatory rheumatisms, 23 non inflammatory rheumatisms, and 15 non rheumatic affections. The RF was investigated by nephelometry, the anti-CCP by immunofluorometry and the AKA by IIF on rat oesophagus. RESULTS: specificity and sensibility were respectively in a retrospective manner: 68% and 83% for the RF, 95% and 76% for the anti- CCP, 83% and 40% for the AKA during RA with evolution of less than one year. The rates of agreements were: RF versus CCP: 81%, RF versus AKA: 57%, CCP versus AKA: 73%. Twelve patients with pathologies different from RA have positive anti-CCP or AKA. Thirty three of the patients with anti-CCP level superior to 130 U/mL have flocculent AKA versus only 5% when the anti-CCP are lower than 130 U/mL. CONCLUSION: the RF and the anti-CCP are complementary in RA. Autoimmune and neoplasic pathologies are sometimes responsible for the positivity of the anti-CCP and the AKA. The flocculent aspect of AKA in IIF may be associated with raised concentrations of anti-CCP.     

Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Antibodies in Patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

The objectives were to determine the prevalence and clinical significance of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Anti-CCP antibodies were checked by ELISA in 68 children with JIA, 38 males and 30 females with mean age of 10.6 (±4.02) years and disease duration of 3.7 (±1.8) years. Thirty-eight (56%) patients had polyarticular disease, 20 (29%) patients had oligoarticular disease and 10 (15%) patients had systemic onset disease. All patients had their antinuclear antibodies (ANA), rheumatoid factor (RF) and ESR checked and x-rays performed to look for erosions. Results were compared to those of 20 healthy children, 14 children with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) and 30 adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Anti-CCP antibodies were positive in 14/68 (20.6%) patients with JIA, all had polyarticular-onset disease. All patients with positive anti-CCP antibodies had RF-positive polyarthritis. Anti-CCP antibodies were negative in all patients with oligoarticular-onset and systemic-onset disease including 2 patients with extended oligoarthritis. Anti-CCP antibodies were negative in healthy and JSLE controls but were positive in 20/30 (66.5%) adults with RA. Anti-CCP antibodies correlated significantly with joint erosions in patients with JIA (p?=?0.004) but no significant relation was found between anti-CCP antibodies and ANA positivity or raised ESR. These data confirm that anti-CCP antibodies are less prevalent in JIA than adult RA but are detectable in a significant proportion of RF-positive patients with polyarticular-onset JIA. The current study showed significant relation between anti-CCP positivity and erosive joint disease in JIA.     

第二代抗环瓜氨酸肽抗体的检测在类风湿关节炎诊断中的意义

目的探讨抗环瓜氮酸肽（CCP）抗体的检测在类风湿关节炎（RA）诊断中的价值。方法ELISA法分别检测108例RA、89例非RA（其它风湿病患者）和78例健康体检者的抗CCP抗体；用间接免疫荧光法和速率散射比浊法检测抗角蛋白抗体（AKA）和类风湿因子（RF），分析CCP抗体的水平及与AKA、RF的相关性。结果抗CCP抗体的阳性率在RA中为87．4％（94／108），在非RA中为8．99％（8／89），正常人为0％（0／78）。3种抗体对RA诊断的敏感性和特异性分别为CCP87．4％、91．01％，AKA58．33％，82．24％，RF81．36％、75．35％。CCP抗体与AKA在RA患者血清中的阳性率之间差异非常显著，与RF差异不显著。3种方法的检测结果间存在相关性。结论用ELISA法检测血清中CCP抗体简便、结果可靠，对RA诊断具有高度的敏感性和特异性。     

Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

The objectives were to determine the prevalence and clinical significance of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Anti-CCP antibodies were checked by ELISA in 68 children with JIA, 38 males and 30 females with mean age of 10.6 (+/-4.02) years and disease duration of 3.7 (+/-1.8) years. Thirty-eight (56%) patients had polyarticular disease, 20 (29%) patients had oligoarticular disease and 10 (15%) patients had systemic onset disease. All patients had their antinuclear antibodies (ANA), rheumatoid factor (RF) and ESR checked and x-rays performed to look for erosions. Results were compared to those of 20 healthy children, 14 children with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) and 30 adults with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Anti-CCP antibodies were positive in 14/68 (20.6%) patients with JIA, all had polyarticular-onset disease. All patients with positive anti-CCP antibodies had RF-positive polyarthritis. Anti-CCP antibodies were negative in all patients with oligoarticular-onset and systemic-onset disease including 2 patients with extended oligoarthritis. Anti-CCP antibodies were negative in healthy and JSLE controls but were positive in 20/30 (66.5%) adults with RA. Anti-CCP antibodies correlated significantly with joint erosions in patients with JIA (p = 0.004) but no significant relation was found between anti-CCP antibodies and ANA positivity or raised ESR. These data confirm that anti-CCP antibodies are less prevalent in JIA than adult RA but are detectable in a significant proportion of RF-positive patients with polyarticular-onset JIA. The current study showed significant relation between anti-CCP positivity and erosive joint disease in JIA.     

RF、AKA和抗CCP抗体联检对类风湿关节炎诊断的临床价值

目的:探讨类风湿因子(Rheum atoid factor,RF)、抗角质蛋白抗体(antikeratin antibody,AKA)及抗环瓜氨酸肽(anti-cyc lic c itru llinated peptide,CCP)抗体对类风湿关节炎(rheum atoid arthritis,RA)的临床意义和早期应用价值。方法:对40例类风湿关节炎患者、30例系统性红斑狼疮和30名正常健康体检者进行RF、AKA、抗CCP抗体检测,应用速率散射比浊法测定RF,间接免疫荧光法检测AKA,ELISA法测定抗CCP抗体。结果:40例RA患者血清中,RF灵敏度和特异性分别为70.0%、90.0%,AKA灵敏度和特异性分别为35.0%、96.7%,抗CCP抗体灵敏度和特异性分别为85.0%、93.3%,联检RF、AKA及抗CCP抗体灵敏度和特异性分别为97.07%、99.8%。结论:RF、AKA和抗CCP抗体可作为诊断RA比较特异的血清学指标,三项指标联检可在一定程度上弥补RF对RA的诊断不足,提高RA的阳性诊断率,且有助于疾病的预后判断。     

类风湿因子及相关自身抗体对类风湿关节炎的诊断价值

目的探讨类风湿因子（RF）、抗环瓜氨酸肽抗体（抗CCP）及抗角蛋白抗体（AKA）联合检测对类风湿关节炎（RA）的临床诊断价值。方法对80例RA和65例非RA的其他自身免疫病患者检测RF、RF-IgM、抗CCP及AKA 4种指标。结果自身免疫性疾病女性发病较高,以RA组为甚;RA组的RF、RF-IgM、抗CCP及AKA高于其他自身免疫性疾病组;单指标检测RA诊断的敏感性为RF〉RF-IgM〉AKA〉抗CCP,特异性为RF-IgM〉抗CCP〉RF〉AKA。阳性预测值为抗CCP〉RF〉RF-IgM、AKA,阴性预测值为RF〉RF-IgM〉AKA〉抗CCP;以并联或串联方式联合检测均以RF、RF-IgM及抗CCP三联及RF、RF-IgM、抗CCP及AKA四联检测为佳,并联检测的敏感性分别为93%及97%,串联检测的特异性分别为98%及99%。结论 RF、RF-IgM、抗CCP及AKA 4种指标联合检测可提高对RA诊断的敏感性和特异性,对RA的早期诊断有较高价值。     

类风湿关节炎四种自身抗体的检测及意义

为评估类风湿因子(rheumatoid factor,RF)、抗环瓜氨酸肽(cyclic citrullinated pepdide,CCP)抗体、抗Sa抗体和抗角蛋白抗体(anti-keratin antibody,AKA)自身抗体对类风湿关节炎(rheumatoid arthritis,RA)诊断的意义,采用速率散...     

Autoantibodies recognizing citrullinated rat filaggrin in an ELISA using citrullinated and non-citrullinated recombinant proteins as antigens are highly diagnostic for rheumatoid arthritis

The objective of the study was to determine the diagnostic value for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) of anti-filaggrin autoantibodies (autoAb) recognizing citrullinated recombinant rat filaggrin (ACRF) in community cases of very early arthritis. To evaluate the diagnostic value of ACRF, were studied sera from patients with different classified rheumatic diseases and healthy subjects (group 1, n= 422) and 314 community cases of very early arthritis (group 2) that were classified as RA (n = 176), non-RA (n = 63) and undifferentiated (n = 75) arthritides after 1 years of follow-up. ACRF were measured using a new ELISA, with results expressed as the difference between the OD value obtained on citrullinated minus that on noncitrullinated rat filaggrin (differential ACRF; dACRF). For both groups, rheumatoid factors (RF), anti-keratin autoAb (AKA) and anti-perinuclear factor (APF) were tested; for group 2, anti-CCP autoAb were also tested. Different reactivity patterns against citrullinated and noncitrullinated filaggrin were observed. Almost all sera reacting with citrullinated but not noncitrullinated filaggrin were from RA patients. Among RA and non-RA sera that recognized both forms of filaggrin, a positive result was obtained only with RA sera. For groups 1 and 2, dACRF sensitivity was 58.4% and 30.7%, and specificity for RA was 99.5% and 98.4%, respectively. In group 2, dACRF specificity for RA was better than that of RF (92.1%), APF (95.2%), AKA (96.8%) and anti-CCP (95.2%). dACRF positive predictive value was high (98.2) and close to that given by the concomitant positivity of RF and anti-CCP autoAb. Despite a high positive correlation between AKA, APF, anti-CCP and dACRF test results, they were complementary since some sera were positive for only one test. Thus, in a community setting, anti-citrullinated rat filaggrin reactivity detected by a new ELISA, whose originality is based on the difference between serum's reactivities on the citrullinated and native forms of filaggrin, had a higher diagnostic value for RA than other autoAb.     

抗CCP抗体和AKA在类风湿关节炎诊断的应用价值

目的 比较抗环瓜氨酸肽抗体(抗CCP抗体)和抗角蛋白抗体(AKA)在类风湿关节炎诊断中作用,探讨RA的早期诊断方法.方法 对已确诊的85例RA患者、74例非RA的自身免疫病患者同时测定抗CCP抗体(ELISA法)、AKA(间接免疫荧光检测).结果 抗CCP抗体对诊断RA的灵敏度和特异性分别为75.3％和93.2％;AKA对RA诊断的灵敏度和特异性分别为89.4％和85.14％.抗CCP抗体的灵敏度与AKA灵敏度差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05),特异性差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05);抗CCP抗体或AKA与二者联合检测的灵敏度差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05),特异性差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).阳性预测值抗CCP抗体较高,阴性预测值以二者联合检测较好,Youden index二者联合检测比单独检测抗CCP抗体或AKA高.抗CCP抗体和AKA在检测RA组中抗CCP抗体和AKA同时阳性检出58例;抗CCP抗体或AKA阳性共检出85例.抗CCP抗体或AKA阳性率(96.5％)比二者同时阳性率(68.2％)大大提高.结论 抗CCP抗体、AKA对RA具有较好的灵敏度和高度的特异性,联合检测抗CCP抗体和AKA可作为早期RA患者及RF阴性RA患者的早期诊断指标.     

Anti-Citrullinated Protein Antibodies in Rheumatoid Arthritis: As Good as it Gets?

Anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) have recently emerged as sensitive and specific serological markers of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), providing superior alternative of the rheumatoid factor (RF) test in the laboratory diagnostics of RA. The first members of this autoantibody family were anti-perinuclear factor (APF) and anti-keratin antibodies (AKA). It became evident that both APF and AKA recognize citrullinated epitopes of filaggrin. Citrullination is a post-translational modification of arginine by deimination, physiologically occurring during apoptosis, inflammation or keratinization. The presence of several citrullinated proteins has been demonstrated in the RA synovium. The identification of citrullinated epitopes as targets for anti-filaggrin antibodies led to the development of the first and later second generation anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody assays. The widely used anti-CCP2 assays have high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, and they also show important predictive and prognostic value in RA. The anti-Sa antibody has been identified a decade ago; however, recent studies confirmed that anti-Sa is directed against citrullinated vimentin, hence it is a new member of the family of ACPAs. The newly developed anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin (anti-MCV) assay has similar diagnostic performance than the anti-CCP2 ELISA; however, the diagnostic spectrum of the anti-MCV test is somewhat different from that of anti-CCP2. It’s especially useful in the diagnosis of RA in RF and anti-CCP2 seronegative patients. The combined application of anti-CCP2 and anti-MCV assays can improve the laboratory diagnostics of RA. The family of ACPAs is expected to expand; there is an increasing need for developing new diagnostic strategies after careful evaluation of the characteristics of the available assays. Zoltán Szekanecz and Lilla Soós with equal contribution.     

抗CCP抗体和RF联检在RA诊疗中的临床价值

目的：研究抗环瓜氨酸肽（anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide,Anti-CCP）（抗CCP抗体）和RF的检测在类风湿关节炎（RA）诊疗中的临床价值。方法：分别用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）、BeckMan全自动蛋白分析仪同时检测早期RA组（病程〈1年）42例,RA组（病程〉1年）40例,非RA对照组40例患者血清抗CCP抗体和RF。结果：早期RA组、RA组的抗CCP抗体、RF阳性率显著高于非RA对照组（P〈0.05）RA组抗CCP水平显著高于早期RA组（P〈0.01）,两者RF无显著差别（P〉0.05）。RA组与早期RA组CCP抗体与RF二者无相关性。结论：联检抗CCP抗体、RF有助于类风湿的早期诊断和预测病情的进展。     

抗环瓜氨酸肽抗体检测对类风湿关节炎的临床诊断价值

目的探讨抗环瓜氨酸肽抗体（抗CCP抗体）检测对类风湿关节炎（RA）诊断的意义。方法采用酶联免疫吸附试验（ELISA）检测115份人血清的抗CCP抗体,同时采用免疫透射比浊法定量检测类风湿因子（RF）,包括40例RA患者,45例其它风湿病患者,30名正常人;并分析抗CCP抗体与RF实验结果之间的相关性。结果在40例RA病人中,抗CCP抗体的阳性率为80.0%,在其它风湿病人中的阳性率为7.0%,抗CCP抗体对RA的敏感性和特异性分别为80.0%、96.0%,其敏感性高于RF,但差异无统计学意义（P〉0.05）,特异性明显高于RF（P〈0.05）。联合应用抗CCP抗体与RF进行诊断,二者均阳性时敏感性为65.0%,特异性为97.3%。抗CCP抗体与RF实验结果之间无相关性。结论抗CCP抗体对RA具有较好的敏感性和很高的特异性,可与RF相互补充,联合检测可提高对RA早期诊断的准确性。     

Usefulness of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP) for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid factor (RF) has been commonly used as a marker of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). RF can be detected in 60-80% of RA patients, but the specificity is low against other rheumatic diseases patients. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (anti-CCP), a new diagnostic test for RA. Anti-CCP demonstrated higher sensitivity (81.0%) and specificity (92.4%). By the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, anti-CCP was superior to other markers (ie. RF, CARF, IgG-RF, and MMP-3). In early RA patients (RA patients who had had disease symptoms for < 2 years), sensitivity was 68.8%. Positivities of anti-CCP in RA patients became higher as the advance of stage defined by the Steinbrocker classification. We concluded that anti-CCP is a very valuable tool for the diagnosis of RA. Moreover, anti-CCP is a useful for finding RA of recent onset.     

Prevalence of Autoantibodies to Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases other than Rheumatoid Arthritis: A French Multicenter Study

Our objective was to evaluate the prevalence of autoantibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP aAbs) in a cohort of patients with a variety of inflammatory or non-inflammatory rheumatic diseases other than rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Six hundred and nine serum samples were tested for anti-CCP aAbs and for rheumatoid factor (RF) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and immunonephelometry. The prevalence of anti-CCP aAbs and RF reached 10% and 25%, respectively, using the positive cutoff value suggested by the manufacturers. Using a higher cutoff value (50 U/ml) for both aAbs, the prevalence was lower with 6% and 16%, respectively. The specificity of both markers for RA thus reached 94% and 84%, respectively. Anti-CCP aAbs were found to be elevated in inflammatory and also in non-inflammatory rheumatic diseases in the same proportion. Clinical data obtained for 36 positive patients showed that 17% developed RA within 5 years. In conclusion, anti-CCP aAbs are clearly more specific than RF for RA. Follow-up of anti-CCP aAbs-positive patients with inflammatory or non-inflammatory rheumatic diseases other than RA could be important considering the predictive value of these aAbs for the development of RA.     

联检多项指标对类风湿关节炎诊断的临床价值

目的:探讨类风湿因子(Rheum atoid factor,RF)、抗角质蛋白抗体(AKA)、C-反应蛋白(C-reactiveprote in,CRP)和血沉(erythrocyte sed im entation rate,ESR)联检对类风湿关节炎(rheum atoid arthritis,RA)的临床诊断价值。方法:对35例类风湿关节炎患者、30例系统性红斑狼疮和30名正常健康体检者的RF、AKA、CRP及ESR检测,应用速率散射比浊法测定RF和CRP;间接免疫荧光法检测AKA;应用魏氏法测定ESR值。结果:35例RA患者血清中,RF灵敏度和特异性分别为71.4%、91.7%,AKA灵敏度和特异性分别为34.3%、96.7%,CRP灵敏度和特异性分别为91.4%、25%,ESR灵敏度和特异性分别为88.6%、83.3%。联检RF和AKA的灵敏度和特异性分别为81.2%、99.7%,联检RF、AKA、CRP及ESR的灵敏度和特异性分别为99.98%、99.97%。结论:RF、AKA、CRP及ESR可作为RA诊断的血清学指标,且四者联检有助于提高RA诊断的灵敏度及特异性。     

The diagnostic utility of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies, matrix metalloproteinase-3, rheumatoid factor, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein in patients with erosive and non-erosive rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic utility of laboratory variables, including matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), anticyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies, rheumatoid factor (RF), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patients with erosive and non-erosive rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: We assembled a training set, consisting of 60 patients with RA, all fulfilling the revised criteria of the American College of Rheumatology. A commercial enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used both to test for anti-CCP antibodies (second generation ELISA kit) and MMP; RF were detected by latex-enhanced immunonephelometric assay. CRP was measured by latex turbidimetric immunoassay. RESULTS: The levels of anti-CCP antibody titers and ESR were significantly higher in patients with erosive disease than those in non-erosive RA patients (p < 0.001 and 0.0341) respectively. Moreover, a higher frequency of elevated titers of anti-CCP antibodies was found in RA patients with erosions compared to patients with non-erosive RA (78.3% vs. 43.2% respectively). The ROC curves of anti-CCP passed closer to the upper left corner than those other markers and area under the curve (AUC) of anti-CCP was significantly larger than AUC of other markers (0.755 for anti-CCP, 0.660 for ESR, 0.611 for CRP, 0.577 for RF, and 0.484 for MMP-3 female). A positive predictive value was higher for anti-CCP antibodies in comparison to other markers. We did not find significant statistical correlation between anti-CCP antibody titers and inflammatory markers such as ESR or CRP. However, we confirmed the correlation of elevated titers of anti-CCP antibodies and RF in both groups of patients whereas the degree of correlation was more significant in non-erosive patients. CONCLUSION: The results of our study suggest that the presence of elevated anti-CCP antibody titers have better diagnostic performance than MMP-3, RF, CRP and ESR in patients with erosive RA.     

Diagnostic performances of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides antibody and antifilaggrin antibody in Korean patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease of unknown etiology. We studied the diagnostic performances of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides antibody (anti-CCP) assay and recombinant anti-citrullinated filaggrin antibody (AFA) assay by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in patients with RA in Korea. Diagnostic performances of the anti-CCP assay and AFA assay were compared with that of rheumatoid factor (RF) latex fixation test. RF, anti-CCP, and AFA assays were performed in 324 RA patients, 251 control patients, and 286 healthy subjects. The optimal cut off values of each assay were determined at the maximal point of area under the curve by receiver-operator characteristics (ROC) curve. Sensitivity (72.8%) and specificity (92.0%) of anti-CCP were better than those of AFA (70.3%, 70.5%), respectively. The diagnostic performance of RF showed a sensitivity of 80.6% and a specificity of 78.5%. Anti-CCP and AFA showed positivity in 23.8% and 17.3% of seronegative RA patients, respectively. In conclusion, we consider that anti-CCP could be very useful serological assay for the diagnosis of RA, because anti-CCP revealed higher diagnostic specificity than RF and AFA at the optimal cut off values and could be performed by easy, convenient ELISA method.     

IgG rheumatoid factors and anti-nuclear antibodies in rheumatoid vasculitis.

We studied the distribution and characteristics of circulating rheumatoid factors (RF) and anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) in 30 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who had polyarthritis alone (group I), 28 RA patients with polyarthritis and extra-articular disease (group II), 28 RA patients with systemic vasculitis (group III) and 60 healthy matched controls. IgG RF occurred more frequently and in higher serum titres in group III (100%) than RA patients in group I (40%), or in group II (18%) or in normal controls (5.8%). The serum titre of IgM RF was higher in vasculitis patients than in other RA patients. ANA were found in 74% of all RA patients and although the frequency did not differ in the three patient groups, the serum titre was significantly higher in the vasculitis group. Antibodies to extractable nuclear antigen were found only in group III (18.7%). Antibodies to histones were also more prevalent in group III than in the other RA groups. The serological abnormalities in rheumatoid vasculitis differed quantitatively as well as qualitatively from other RA patients.     

Autoantibodies in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Aim:  The aim of this study is to examine the diagnostic value of autoanitbodies in patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. We evaluated the presence of the following autoantibodies: rheumatoid factor (RF), antinuclear antibodies (ANAs), antibodies against cadiolipin (a-CL) and antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP).
Methods:  We studied the presence of RF, ANA, a-CL and anti-CCP in 40 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid factor was measured using nephelometric method, while ANAs were examined by indirect immunofluorescence technique using Hep-2 cells as substrate. Sera that reacted at 1/80 dilution were classified as ANA positive. Positive sera were studied up to 1/1280 dilution. A-CL and anti-CCP were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results:  RF was positive in 30 patients (75%), ANA in 15 (37%), a-CL in 10 (25%) and anti-CCP in 36 (90%). Predominant pattern of nuclear staining of ANA-positive sera was homogenous and speckled type. ANA titres were particularly low; most patients (6) had ANA titre equal to 1/80, and five patients had a titre of 1/160, while only four out of 40 had an ANA titre of 1/320.
Conclusions:  Autoimmune disorders such as RA are characterized by various autoantibodies that usually are not specific, as they are present in many other diseases. However, RF and especially anti-CCP are very often and show higher specificity for RA, being useful diagnostic serological markers. On the other hand, ANA and a-CL are less common in RA paitents; they may be useful in terms of prognosis and treatment, but they always should be evaluated in correlation with the clinical features and the rest of the laboratory findings of each patient.