Antibodies against citrullinated proteins--a breakthrough in rheumatologic diagnostics
Rönnelid, J.; Klareskog, L.; Skogh, T.; Svensson, B.ör.
Lakartidningen 101(50): 4092-4096
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 0023-7205 PMID: 15631262 Document Number: 574784
Antibodies directed against citrullinated proteins (anti-CP) constitute a newly defined group of autoantibodies with very high diagnostic specificity for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The most recently developed assays have a sensitivity comparable to that of traditional tests for Rheumatoid Factor (RF). Due to its considerably higher specificity, the authors recommend that anti-CP antibody analysis should replace the RF test in primary healthcare when investigating cases of clinically suspect RA.