Objective: To determine whether the presence of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies at presentation is of prognostic value in patients with palindromic arthritis.
Methods: Stored sera, taken around the time of presentation from patients with palindromic arthritis, where available, were assessed for anti-CCP antibodies, and results were correlated with subsequent clinical outcome.
Results: Twenty-nine of 61 patients had progressed to rheumatoid arthritis after a mean followup of 5.4 years; 83% of these had had anti-CCP antibodies in their baseline sera.
Conclusion: The sensitivity/specificity and likelihood ratios for CCP antibodies were better than rheumatoid factor in predicting outcome.