Autoantibodies can be prognostic markers of an erosive disease in early rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate a contribution of selected laboratory parameters for a prediction of progressive and erosive development in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: In a prospective study baseline levels of antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP), IgM, IgA, and IgG rheumatoid factors (RFs) were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 104 patients with RA with disease duration 10 units. The combination of anti-CCP and IgM RF increased the ability to predict erosive and progressive disease. Conclusion: The data confirmed that measurement of anti-CCP, AKA, APF, and individual isotypes of RFs was useful for prediction of structural damage early in the disease course. Combined analysis of anti-CCP and IgM RF provides the most accurate prediction.