DIAGNOSTIC AND PROGNOSTIC VALUE OF ANTI-CITRULLINATED ANTIBODIES IN RHEUMATOLOGY
Summary. The latest information on the diagnostic role anti-citrullinated peptides in the development of rheumatic diseases, particularly rheumatoid arthritis, are summarized in this paper. Antibodies to citrullinated proteins are important and early laboratory parameters in diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. They are higher than IgM-rheumatoid factor for specificity and sensitivity. Antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptide and cyclic modified vimentin strongly correlated with the activity of rheumatoid arthritis and are predictors of rapid progression and suitable for evaluating prognosis in early stages. Since the specificity of the combination of these autoantibodies is close to 100% of their simultaneous determination will be particularly useful in patients with undifferentiated arthritis.
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