Blood Test May Predict Development of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Newswise — A blood test to determine the presence of certain antibodies may accurately predict the likelihood of developing rheumatoid arthritis in people who have a diagnosis of undifferentiated arthritis, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Orlando, Florida.

In a group of 936 patients newly diagnosed with undifferentiated arthritis (meaning they have arthritis but the exact diagnosis is undetermined), investigators tested for the presence of antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptides, or CCP, which are considered to be predictive of rheumatoid arthritis. After two weeks, 318 of these patients continued to be classified as having undifferentiated arthritis (a more specific diagnosis could not be reached), and were followed for three years to evaluate if the undifferentiated arthritis progressed to rheumatoid arthritis. After three years of follow up, 127 patients were classified as having rheumatoid arthritis. Of these, rheumatoid arthritis developed in 25% of the patients who tested negative for the presence of antibodies to CCP, and in 93% of the patients who tested positive for the presence of antibodies to CCP.

"This means that with this test we can now identify a group of patients at very high risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis," said Floris A. van Gaalen, MD, Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands, and lead investigator in the study. "Not only is this important information for both physicians and patients, but we are currently investigating if treating these patients early on prevents chronic disabling disease."

The American College of Rheumatology is the professional organization for rheumatologists and health professionals who share a dedication to healing, preventing disability and curing arthritis and related rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. For more information on the ACR's annual meeting, see http://www.rheumatology.org/annual.