What is an anti-CCP test?

Anticyclic citrulic peptides (CCP) test is an extremely specific blood test for diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is also used to predict the likelihood that RA will develop before the symptoms of this form of arthritis are observed. The diagnosis of RA is usually based on symptoms of consistent with this form of arthritis and the results of blood tests for anti-CCP and rheumatoid factor, other less specific blood marker for RA.

Ra is an autoimmune disease during which the body's body begins to attack the body. One of the primary symptoms of RA is swollen and painful joints. Inflammation in the body produces arginine, an amino acid part, which is sometimes transformed into another amino acid called citrulin. People with RA produce antibodies against the chains of these citrulin amino acids called anti -cyclic citrulic peptide antibodies. The anti-CCP blood test detects the presence of these antibodies.

This test is valuable for many reasons. First, the test of the antI-CCP can confirm the diagnosis when RA symptoms are present. The second is his ability to detect anti -cyclic citrulic peptide antibodies in people's blood before symptoms developed. Thirdly, the presence of high concentrations of anti -cyclic citrulic peptide antibodies in the blood, before the symptoms appear, it strongly indicates a more aggressive form of RA. This kind of information may allow you to start treatment early, may prevent joint damage and help rheumatologists to determine how to treat disease strongly.

Before developing Anti-CCP Diagnosis, RA was very careful about the blood test on the rheumatoid factor (RF). This test is sometimes negative in people with RA and sometimes positive in people who do not have RA or never develop this form of arthritis. The diagnosis of RA is now usually established symptoms, as well as the results of blood tests on RF and Anti-CCP.

If the symptoms of RA and blood tests RF and anti-CCP are observedThey are positive, the diagnosis of RA is made. When the patient has a positive RF and a negative anti-CCP test, the doctor usually orders additional tests and performs determination based on the results of these tests as well as symptoms and their severity. If the Anti-CCP test is positive, the RF test is negative and symptoms are present, the diagnosis is for RA. When the Anti-CCP test is positive, the RF test is negative and no symptoms are present, it is assumed that RA has a strong probability of development in the future. If both blood tests are negative, but the symptoms of RA are present, an alternative reason for symptoms may be sought and the diagnosis of RA can be delayed or abandoned.