EDITORIAL - What can we learn from treatment-induced changes in RF and anti-CCP antibodies?

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Journal of Rheumatology

Oct 2008

Editorial

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What Can We Learn from Treatment-Induced Changes in Rheumatoid Factor

and Anti-Citrullinated Peptide Antibodies?

FRANCESCA BOBBIO-PALLAVICINI, MD,

ROBERTO CAPORALI, MD,

Associate Professor,

Chair and Division of Rheumatology;

SERENA BUGATTI, MD,

Chair and Division of Rheumatology;

CARLOMAURIZIO MONTECUCCO, MD,

Full Professor, Director,

Chair and Division of Rheumatology,

University of Pavia, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo,

Pavia, Italy

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Basic and clinical research initiatives on the 2 major autoantibody

systems in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), rheumatoid factor (RF) and

anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA), have moved in parallel

in recent years1-3. Indeed, recent works have disclosed some of the

mechanisms underlying the genesis, maintenance, and role of the

humoral autoimmune response in RA, identifying defective B cell

tolerance checkpoints4 and dissecting the interactions among

environment, genes, and adaptive immunity3. On the other hand,

monitoring the autoimmune response in RA through its most accessible

marker, i.e., serum autoantibodies, has gained growing interest as RF

and ACPA are recognized as powerful predictive, diagnostic, and

prognostic tools in RA

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http://jrheum.com/subscribers/08/10/1903.html

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