Korean J Med.  2009 Feb;76(2):193-198.

Anti-CCP antibodies predict progression of palindromic rheumatism to rheumatoid arthritis

• Kim JY
• Park SH
• Kim SK
• Kim SG
• Shin IH
• Choe JY

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Palindromic rheumatism (PR) is an episodic arthropathy that may precede typical rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The objective of this study was to determine whether anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies in patients with PR contribute to the progression to RA.
METHODS
The study group included 115 patients who were initially diagnosed with PR. Baseline serum samples were stored and analyzed for the presence of anti-CCP antibodies, APF, and RF or for anti-CCP antibodies and HLA-DR4. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify predictive factors for progression to RA.
RESULTS
The anti-CCP antibodies APF and RF were found in 33.3%, 28.9%, and 35.7% of the 115 patients with PR, and 36 (31.3%) of these patients eventually progressed to RA. Comparing the risk factors for patients who progressed to RA (31.3%) and those who did not (68.7%), only the presence of anti-CCP antibodies was found to affect progression to RA (95% CI for OR, 0.0001-0.114; p<0.001). HLA-DR4-positivity was noted in 40% of the patients with PR, although it did not affect progression to RA and was not significantly associated with the presence of anti-CCP antibodies.
CONCLUSIONS
Anti-CCP antibodies are found more frequently in patients with PR who eventually progress to RA. Therefore, anti-CCP antibody testing of patients with PR may facilitate prediction of progression to RA.

Keyword

Palindromic Rheumatism; Anti-CCP antibody

MeSH Terms

Antibodies
Arthritis, Rheumatoid
HLA-DR4 Antigen
Humans
Logistic Models
Rheumatic Diseases
Risk Factors
Antibodies
Arthritis, Rheumatoid
HLA-DR4 Antigen