092 - Autoantibody testing in the diagnosis and monitoring of Rheumatoid Arthritis: the role of Laboratory
Autor(s): M. Tampoia
Issue: RIMeL - IJLaM, Vol. 3, N. 3-S1, 2007 (MAF Servizi srl ed.)
Page(s): 92-95
Early treatment prevents progression of joint damage in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) but diagnosis in early disease is impeded by lack of appropriate diagnostic criteria. For decades, the determination of rheumatoid factor (RF) has been the central autoimmune laboratory test, playing a critical role for both diagnosis and prognostication in recentonset sinovitis/early arthritis patients. Recently, several additional autoantibodies have demonstrated better performances than RF and have been proposed as diagnostic and prognostic markers for RA. Most prominently, anticitrullinated protein/peptide antibodies (ACPA) are highly specific for RA, can be found early in the disease course and are associated with more severe joint destruction and disease activity. Important progress has been made in the detection and identification of ACPA and many ELISA kits are commercially available. In addition, full automation of the assay, featuring ease of use, rapid response and high productivity, have increase their use for diagnostic and prognostic purposes in RA patients.