Benefits of anticitrullinated peptides examination in rheumatoid arthritis

Conclusions: The study was placed in Slovak Republic. We examined 833 patients with arthritis. There were 43 patients, or 62% of a subgroup of 69 who were ACPA positive whose ACPA examination was not needed—ACR/EULAR criteria was met without ACPA scoring. This number represents 5.1% of the total number examined. There were 15 patients, or 22% of the subgroup and 1.8% of the total whose diagnosis was revised to rheumatoid arthritis due to ACPA positivity—ACR/EULAR criteria were met solely with ACPA scoring. There were 11 patients (16% and 1.3%) whose medication was changed due to ACPA positivity. ACPA examination is useful in 3.1% of all examined patients. When we correlate data on ACPA positive patients, 38% of the patients profit from ACPA examinations. Considering the relatively low price of ACPA testing, this examination should not be excluded.

Source: Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice - October 8, 2018 Category: Rural Health Authors: G Belakova V Manka E Zanova P Racay Source Type: research