Multicentric evaluation of a second generation assay to detect antiviral citrullinated peptide antibodies:a collaborative study by the Forum Interdisciplinare per la Ricerca nelle Malattie Autoimmuni

摘要

Aims A novel immunoenzymatic assay using viral citrullinated peptides derived from Epstein—Barr virus-encoded proteins (viral citrullinated peptide 2 (VCP2)) has been developed and evaluated by means of a multicentre collaborative study. Methods Three hundred nine sera from patients with established rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 36 with early arthritis, 12 with juvenile arthritis and 453 controls were tested for VCP2 and cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies.