Abstract
Background: There is a need for highly sensitive and specific laboratory tests for the early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Anticitrullinated protein/peptide antibodies are produced in the sera of RA patients. Objective: To assess and discuss the diagnostic value of Orgentec antimutated citrullinated vimentin (anti-MCV) ELISA and to compare this diagnostic to commercially available anticyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) tests. Methods: The evaluation is based on our recently published study on the comparison of anti-MCV and anti-CCP2 tests, as well as on published studies. Results/conclusion: In established RA, the anti-MCV ELISA exerts a specificity comparable with anti-CCP2. Numerous recent studies suggest that anti-MCV may have higher sensitivity, however there are also some publications stating the opposite. In early RA, anti-MCV may be a better predictor of disease activity and radiological progression than anti-CCP tests.