The extent of the anti-citrullinated protein antibody repertoire is associated with arthritis development in patients with seropositive arthralgia.

Objectives: To determine the fine specificity of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) in the early phase of arthritis development, the ACPA repertoire in arthralgia patients and the association with arthritis development were studied.

Methods: A total of 244 patients with arthralgia positive for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (aCCPs) and/or IgM rheumatoid factor (IgM-RF), without arthritis were included. Development of arthritis was defined as presence of one or more swollen joints at clinical examination during follow-up.

Antibodies to mutated citrullinated vimentin and disease activity score in early arthritis: a cohort study.

Introduction: The aim of our study was to investigate the association between arthritic disease activity and antibodies to mutated citrullinated vimentin (anti-MCV), because such a relation has been suggested.

Methods: Anti-MCV levels were measured in 162 patients with early arthritis (123 with rheumatoid arthritis and 39 with undifferentiated arthritis) at baseline and at 1 and 2 years of follow up. Disease activity was measured using the disease activity score (Disease Activity Score based on 28 joints [DAS28]) and serum C-reactive protein.