Currently, rheumatoid arthritis is a highly prevalent disease that affects the health and well-being and reduces the quality of life of the patient. So, patients should watch for the signs that help to quickly go to the hospital for treatment from an early stage.
Anti-CCP test is one of the diagnostic tests that help doctors to detect rheumatoid arthritis in an early stage to limit dangerous complications.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Diagnostic Tests
Rheumatoid arthritis is a highly common autoimmune disease that occurs when the synovial sac around the joint becomes inflamed or damaged. Over time, this condition will destroy the joints and cartilage joints, even damage bones in the joints, causing loss of musculoskeletal function, the most dangerous is a disability.
Therefore, patients need to pay attention to the signs to promptly diagnose the disease at the hospital, the more effective the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis is, helping to quickly improve symptoms and return to normal life.
The diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is often based on clinical manifestations on the patient’s body and arthritis tests such as rheumatoid factor (RF), blood sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein (CRP). – C-reactive protein).
One problem, however, is that RF is not entirely specific to rheumatoid arthritis, but can also occur in patients with other autoimmune, bacterial infections, or even healthy elderly. As for the rate of blood sedimentation and CRP is often a sign of inflammatory reactions in general, thus partly affecting, creating many difficulties for doctors in the diagnosis process.
In recent years, antibody to the cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) has been used by health professionals more in the diagnosis of arthritis, as this is Quantitative technique of second-generation anti-CCP in serum or plasma has high specificity in rheumatoid arthritis.
Find Out About The Anti-CCP Assay
The human immune system produces anti-CCP antibodies that play a role against the citrullinated cyclic peptide. Citrulline is a substance produced naturally in the body, part of the metabolism of arginine (which is an amino acid).
In exceptional cases, however, the transition tends to produce intermediate structures, forming a cycle called a citrullinated peptide. According to many studies, this alteration and the production of anti-CCP antibodies in the body often occur in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
What is the Anti-CCP test? The Anti-CCP test is a test done to help the doctor detect CC antibodies, and also measure the CCP antibodies in the body. From there, helping to improve the value of rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis with the most accurate results.
The CCP antibody is considered to have high sensitivity and specificity, so the test offers great diagnostic value, especially when the anti-CCP test is combined with the rheumatoid factor. This is also a highly effective method of rheumatoid arthritis screening today.
When Should The Anti-CCP Test Be Done?
The Anti-CCP test is not to be used as a general screening test but is only done in certain cases as directed by a doctor including:
- It is indicated to carry out with the RF test, thereby helping to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis with more accurate results.
It May be ordered following a negative RF test (-), in case the patient develops symptoms of joint pain, symmetric arthritis. These are symptoms that make doctors suspect that the patient is suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.
In addition, the Anti-CCP test is also indicated in the case of assessing the progression of rheumatoid arthritis in patients with nonspecific rheumatoid arthritis, but patients with clinically relevant symptoms, Although the standard symptoms to identify the disease do not fully converge, but it leads the doctor to have doubts need to conduct tests to confirm.
In addition, the doctor will prescribe an Anti-CCP test in cases where unusual symptoms include:
- The patient has painful swelling in the joint accompanied by a high fever.
- Tired man.
- There is a burning sensation in the joints of the hands, wrists, feet.
- Pain is common in large joints such as shoulders, neck, elbows, and knees.
- Detecting that the patient has subcutaneous nodules, especially the elbow position.
Find Out The Significance of The Indicators in The Anti-CCP Test
The significance of the anti-cop test has a high diagnostic value to help detect rheumatoid arthritis, but the significance of the Anti-CCP index is understood as follows:
- For normal healthy individuals, the plasma anti-CCP index value will be <17 U / mL.
- But when the anti-CCP index value ≥ 17 U / mL, it is a significant (+) calculation.
For patients with rheumatoid arthritis, there is an optimal cut-off of the anti-CCP of 17 u / mL, the sensitivity of the test at 67.4%, and the specificity at 97%.
In principle, after testing, anti-CCP results should be evaluated combining clinical symptoms to bring the most accurate conclusions for each case.
If the anti-CCP (+) test results count and the RF (+) test results, then the patient likely to have rheumatoid arthritis is progressing quite seriously.
If the anti-CCP (+) test results but the RF (-) test results together with the typical clinical symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, then the patient is very likely to have rheumatoid arthritis. but still at an early stage and may progress in the near future.
According to US studies, about 95% of patients with anti-CCP (+) results will progress to rheumatoid arthritis in the near future.
If the anti-CCP (-) test result counts and the RF (+) test results, and the patient develops clinical symptoms related to rheumatoid arthritis, then it is likely that the patient has disease or manifestations of another inflammatory disease.
If the CCP and RF test results are both (-) counted, then the patient is very unlikely to develop rheumatoid arthritis.
There is a problem to note, although anti-CCP and RF result both give a (-) calculation, the patient is less likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis, the current diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is Weakness depends on clinical factors, so rheumatoid arthritis can still be diagnosed from typical clinical symptoms even when autoimmune antibodies (-) are counted.
When performing a combination of outstanding rheumatoid arthritis diagnostic tests such as anti-CCP, RF, CRP, and blood sedimentation in case the patient has been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, there is no need to do it again. anti-CCP tests and RF test (already (+) counted).
In order to be able to monitor the progression of rheumatoid arthritis, and at the same time monitor the treatment results of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, the doctor will only need to perform CRP monitoring and blood sedimentation is enough.
For patients when receiving rheumatoid arthritis diagnostic test results, to understand the meaning and the most accurate results, it is best to be consulted by a doctor in each specific case.
Where Is The Anti-CCP Test?
Rheumatoid arthritis is a long-term disease that affects the patient’s health, which can be caused by many different causes such as genetic factors, the site, and pathogens attack the body such as bacteria, viruses, patients living in uncertain environmental conditions such as pollution, humidity or also due to the weakened body, after surgery, cold infection …
When there are symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis such as prolonged pain, limited movement, swelling, and pain of joints, patients should go to the hospital to be diagnosed and treated early, to limit complications such as stiff joints, finger twitching, muscle atrophy, disability … Especially rheumatoid arthritis will be life-threatening if there are other conditions such as acute infection, cardiovascular disease.
Depending on the patient’s situation, the doctor will prescribe the most suitable rheumatoid arthritis diagnostic tests, not only the Anti-CCP test but also other tests that also help enhance the diagnostic value. diagnose the disease and bring the most positive treatment effect.
Currently, at Diag – Medical Diagnostic Testing Center, which provides diagnostic test packages for rheumatoid arthritis with a fast time and high accuracy, many patients trust and chooses. If you have questions to answer and make an appointment, you can also call Diag’s hotline: 190017171 for information advice and make an appointment as quickly as possible.
Thus, the Anti-CCP test is a meaningful test in helping doctors diagnose and detect rheumatoid arthritis early in the early stages. As a result, the doctor will provide an appropriate and highly effective treatment regimen, helping patients quickly shorten treatment time, limit symptoms, and improve quality of life, especially minimizing the risk of complications from rheumatoid arthritis.
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The site cannot and does not contain medical advice. The medical information is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional advice. Accordingly, before taking any actions based upon such information, we encourage you to consult with the appropriate professionals.