What Are Anti-CCP Antibodies?
Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (Anti-CCP) antibodies attack proteins produced by an individual's own body. They play a role in rheumatoid arthritis and are indicators of this inflammatory joint disease.
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Antibodies
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Antibodies are proteins used by your body to neutralize foreign or dangerous compounds. Certain conditions cause your body to produce antibodies, such as anti-CCP antibodies, that attack its own proteins, causing disease.
CCP
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Citrulline is an amino acid that is incorporated into proteins during inflammation. Cyclic citrullinated peptide is a protein present in cases of rheumatoid arthritis.
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Diagnosis of Early Rheumatoid ArthritisC
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According to the Indian Department of Medicine, tests for anti-CCP antibodies are a good way to identify rheumatoid arthritis in its early stages. In "Anti-CCP Antibodies in Rheumatoid Arthritis" a 2004 report supported by the Indian Rheumatology Association, researchers found that 50 to 60 percent of patients in the study tested positive for anti-CCP antibodies after only three to six months of symptoms. Of those who tested positive, 93 percent were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, as opposed to 25 percent of those who tested negative for anti-CCP. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) further reported that in studies using stored samples, the anti-CCP antibodies were detected years before the disease developed.
Prediction of Severe Disease
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Tests for anti-CCP antibodies can also be used to predict the severity of rheumatoid arthritis, researchers said. Patients who test positive for anti-CCP earlier in the course of their disease are likely to have a more severe case.
Differentiation from Other Diseases
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According to ACR, because rheumatoid arthritis is the only major condition that produces anti-CCP antibodies, a test for these antibodies is a good way to confirm that someone is suffering from rheumatoid arthritis rather than another disease.
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