just found this on google I think someone asked if this test definately proves rheumatoid

[Guest guest]

Answer:

What is anti-CCP?

Anti-CCP, which stands for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody, is a

new and exciting blood test to help doctors confirm a diagnosis of

rheumatoid arthritis <http://arthritis.about.com/od/rheumatoidarthritis/> .

.. Guide

<http://arthritis.about.com/od/rheumatoidarthritis/a/rheumatoidguide.htm>

To Rheumatoid Arthritis

When is it appropriate to have this test? Does anti-CCP determine if a

patient has rheumatoid arthritis?

Anti-CCP is a very useful test to order during the diagnostic

<http://arthritis.about.com/od/radiagnosis/> evaluation of a person who may

have rheumatoid arthritis. If present in such a patient at a moderate to

high level, it not only confirms the diagnosis but also may indicate that

the patient is at increased risk for damage to the joints. (Low levels of

this antibody are less significant.) In the past, doctors relied on another

antibody, the rheumatoid

<http://arthritis.about.com/od/radiagnosis/a/rheumfactor.htm> factor (RF)

to help confirm a diagnosis.

.. What is <http://arthritis.about.com/od/radiagnosis/a/rheumfactor.htm>

Rheumatoid Factor?

What does anti-CCP indicate?

While the rheumatoid factor is more common in rheumatoid arthritis patients,

many patients with a positive test do not have rheumatoid arthritis.

Furthermore, the presence of the rheumatoid factor has less prognostic

significance than the CCP. Of interest is that if your rheumatoid factor is

negative, you are less likely to have a positive CCP. Both blood tests are

recommended in the initial evaluation of a patient with suspected rheumatoid

arthritis.

Do Normal Blood Test Results Rule Out Rheumatoid Arthritis / Rheumatic

Disease?

Is it possible to have rheumatoid arthritis

<http://arthritis.about.com/od/rheumatoidarthritis/> (or other rheumatic

diseases) and have blood work that is within normal range for inflammation

markers? How much of the diagnosis is based on the blood tests for

inflammation <http://arthritis.about.com/cs/arthgen/a/inflammation.htm> ?

Answer: Most patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have some marker of the

disease in the blood. This might include:

.. positive rheumatoid

<http://arthritis.about.com/od/radiagnosis/a/rheumfactor.htm> factor (RF)

.. cyclic <http://arthritis.about.com/od/radiagnosis/f/anticcp.htm>

citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody

.. elevated measures of inflammation

<http://arthritis.about.com/od/inflammation/>

.. an increase erythrocyte

<http://arthritis.about.com/cs/diagnostic/g/sedrate.htm> sedimentation rate

(ESR)

.. C-reactive <http://arthritis.about.com/cs/diagnostic/a/crp.htm>

protein (CRP).

On the other hand, occasionally a patient with RA may have active disease

and all these tests are normal. In general, those patients without these

abnormalities in the blood are less likely to develop joint damage

<http://arthritis.about.com/od/arthritisbyanatomy/> . Almost all patients

with lupus <http://arthritis.about.com/od/lupus/> have the presence of the

antinuclear <http://arthritis.about.com/od/diagnostic/a/ana.htm> antibodies

(ANA) or if negative, an SSA antibody or anti-phospholipid antibodies

(associated with an increased risk of thrombosis such as a blood clot or

stroke or miscarriage). Once again, there are patients, although rare, who

have lupus despite these negative tests. Most Sjogren's syndrome

<http://arthritis.about.com/od/sjogrens/> patients will typically exhibit

an elevated ESR or have a positive ANA, RF, SSA or SSB antibody in their

blood.

It is important to remember that while blood tests are helpful in confirming

a diagnosis and assessment of disease activity, it is more important to

diagnose and treat based on the patient's clinical presentation.