ANTI CYCLIC CITRULLINATED PEPTIDE- ANTI CCP

Anti CCP antibodies are useful for evaluting patients suspected of Rheumatoid arthritis. Positive result occur in 60 -80 % of Rheumatoid arthritis patients depending on disease severity. The positive predictive value of Anti CCP antibodies for Rheumatoid arthritis is far greater than Rheumatoid factor .False positive results are uncommon. upto 30 % patients with seronegative Rheumatoid arthritis also show Anti CCP antibodies.
CLINICAL USES

For diagnosis of early Rheumatoid arthritis Anti CCP antibodies are detected in approximately 50 - 60 % patients of Rheumatoid arthritis usually after 3 - 6 months of symptoms.
Prediction of severity of disease -Early Rheumatoid arthritis patients with Anti CCP positivity may develop a more erosive form of the disease as compared with Anti CCP negative patients.
To differentiate adult onset Rheumatoid arthritis from polymyalgia rheumatica and erosive SLE.