Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Rheumatoid Arthritis, including details on treatment, symptoms, causes, medication.

Proteomic: new advances in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis.

Tampoia M, Brescia V, Fontana A, Maggiolini P, Zucano A, Pansini N

Laboratorio di Patologia Clinica I, Azienda Ospedaliera Policlinico, 70124 Bari, Italy. mtampoia@libero.it

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the joints. A number of novel treatment modalities have been introduced over the past years, and rheumatologists are now attempting to institute optimal treatment in recent-onset arthritis. To facilitate diagnosis during the early stages of disease, when often not all clinical symptoms are manifest, a good serological marker is needed. METHODS: Antibodies directed to citrullinated proteins provide this ability. The most sensitive assay for detecting these antibodies is the so-called anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide, second generation (CCP II) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The diagnostic and prognostic potential of anti-CCP antibodies and the availability of a fully automated assay method lead us to conclude that the test is satisfactory for routine use as a serological marker of RA. In addition, we consider the potential of multiplex autoantibody assays, including miniaturized, high-throughput microarray technology, to improve diagnosis and prognostication in early onset arthritis patients.

Published 1 July 2005 in Clin Chim Acta, 357(2): 219-25.
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