anticitrulina
Anticitrulina, more commonly referred to as anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA), are autoantibodies directed against citrullinated peptides and proteins. Citrullination is a post-translational modification in which arginine residues are converted to citrulline by peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD) enzymes, a process enhanced in inflamed tissues such as the synovium.
In clinical practice, ACPA are highly specific for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). They can precede the onset of
Detection and interpretation: The most common assays detect anti-CCP antibodies (e.g., CCP‑2). Testing may be combined
Pathogenesis: The production of anticitrullinated antibodies requires genetic predisposition, notably HLA-DRB1 alleles encoding the shared epitope,
Limitations and scope: Not all RA patients are ACPA-positive; approximately 20–40% may be seronegative. ACPA may
Terminology: In some languages the term anticitrulina is used to refer to these antibodies; in English, ACPA