RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Anti-cyclic citrullinated protein antibodies as a predictor of response to anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha therapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
JF The Journal of Rheumatology
JO J Rheumatol
FD The Journal of Rheumatology
SP 497
OP 500
VO 33
IS 3
A1 Yolanda Braun-Moscovici
A1 Doron Markovits
A1 Oren Zinder
A1 Daniel Schapira
A1 Alexander Rozin
A1 Marc Ehrenburg
A1 Lena Dain
A1 Erica Hoffer
A1 A Menahem Nahir
A1 Alexandra Balbir-Gurman
YR 2006
UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/33/3/497.abstract
AB OBJECTIVE:. The treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has changed dramatically with the introduction of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents. Unfortunately, a subset of patients have partial or no response. No measurements were found to predict the efficacy of this therapy. Anti-cyclic citrullinated protein antibodies (anti-CCP) are highly specific and sensitive for RA, and their titer correlates with erosive disease. We investigated the correlation between the efficacy of infliximab therapy and the titer of anti-CCP. METHODS: Thirty consecutive seropositive patients with RA were treated with infusion of 3 mg/kg infliximab on Weeks 0, 2, 6, and 14. Clinical assessment and blood withdrawal were done before each treatment, i.e., at the minimal concentration of the drug. Disease activity was assessed by DAS28 score and by interleukin 6 (IL-6) level. Anti-CCP titer was measured by a commercial ELISA at Week 0 and Week 14. RESULTS: At baseline, 24 patients were positive for anti-CCP antibodies. In most patients there was a significant correlation between clinical response to therapy and anti-CCP titer. The results were especially noteworthy in those patients who showed a sustained and significant decrease in IL-6 levels through the entire period. CONCLUSION: Anti-CCP titer and IL-6 levels might be early predictors of the efficacy of anti-TNF therapy in patients with RA.