Objective To determine the diagnostic value of antifilaggrin antibodies(AFA) in rheumatoid arthritis(RA) and to compare the correlation among AFA,anti-perinuclear factor(APF) and anti-keratin antibodies(AKA). Methods Filaggrin was extracted from human epidermis and then partially purified. AFA in 103 cases of RA and 140 cases of controls were detected by western blot. APF and AKA were detected using indirect immunofluorescence. Results AFA test resulted in diagnosis of 35.9% of 103 RA samples, with a specificity of 93.7%. The result was significantly higher than the controls (P

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of anti cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibody (anti CCP) detected by ELISA in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods The synthesized CCP deduced from the known cDNA sequence was used as substrate in ELISA.The anti CCP was detected by ELISA in 294 RA,132 rheumatic diseases other than RA and 135 non rheumatic diseases.To compare the correlation among the anti CCP and APF (antiperinuclear factor),AKA (anti keratin antibody),RF (rheumatoid factor) and HLA DR4.Results One hundred and thirty seven (46 6%) RA sera,7 (5 3%) other rheumatic disease sera and 2 (1 8%) non rheumatic disease were found to be anti CCP positive by ELISA.The sensitivity of anti CCP was 46 6% with high specificity (96 9%) in RA.Anti CCP was associated with APF,AKA and HLA DR4 except RF.Conclusions Anti CCP presents a reasonable sensitivity (46 6%) with high specificity (96 6%) to RA and it is valuable to RA diagnosis.Anti CCP is associated with APF,AKA and HLA DR4 but not completely overlaps them.Anti CCP could be regarded as a new diagnostic marker in RA.

Objective To establish the method for extracting the cytokeratin filament aggregating protein (filaggrin) from human epidermis,to detect the anti filaggrin antibody (AFA) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to determine the diagnostic value of AFA in RA.Methods Filaggrin was extracted from human epidermis and partially purified.AFA in 103 patients with RA and 140 controls was detected by Western blotting.Results Filaggrin extracted from the epidermis could be used as the antigen in AFA test by Western blotting.AFA test resulted in diagnosis of 35 9% of 103 RA samples,with a specificity of 93 7%.The result was significantly higher compared with patients′ and normal controls ( P

Objective To improve the understanding and diagnosis of primary hypertrophic os-teoathropathy(PHO).Methods A case of PHO was reported.The clinical data and the process of the diagno-sis and treatment was analyzed retrospectively,and the related literature were reviewed.Results The patient was a young man without family history of PHO.He had symptoms since age 16.He had clubbing fingers and toes,hypertrophic skin,joint swelling,hyperhidrosis and radiographic evidence of periostitis.Thus the disease was diagnosed as PHO.The patient was treated with NSAIDs and the symptoms relieved very quickly.Conclusion Radiographic examination should be taken in time when young males have the general characters of clubbing fingers and toes,hypertrophic skin changes.If the periostitis presents,the final diagnosis of PHO can be confirmed.