Is ACPA positivity the main driver for rheumatoid arthritis treatment? Pros and cons

Publication date: Available online 9 September 2017
Source:Autoimmunity Reviews
Author(s): Stefano Alivernini, Mauro Galeazzi, Hagit Peleg, Barbara Tolusso, Elisa Gremese, Gianfranco Ferraccioli, Yaakov Naparstek
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune chronic disease that is characterized by the positivity of various antibodies, the most specific being autoantibodies against citrullinated antigens (ACPA). Despite ACPA are not arthritogenic by themselves, ACPA positive individuals have high risk of RA development and ACPA positivity is associated with severe erosive phenotype and higher mortality rate compared to seronegative RA. Moreover, ACPA status is associated with favorable response to biologics targeting pathways involving autoantibody producing cells as B lymphocytes. In the current review we have discussed the pros and cons on the available scientific evidences, regarding the diagnostic, prognostic and management implications of ACPAs in RA.



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