Heterogeneity of anticitrullinated peptide antibodies and response to anti-tumor necrosis factor agents in rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Objective: To examine fine specificity of anticitrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPA) in relation to responsiveness to anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Samples from 450 patients with RA treated with anti-TNF agents were analyzed for antibodies to citrullinated α-enolase, vimentin, and fibrinogen peptides. The Disease Activity Score-28 was measured at baseline and 6 months.

Results: Both anti-cFib antibodies and the number of citrullinated peptides recognized were associated with a poorer response. These findings were not significant following stratification for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide 2 antibodies.

Conclusion: The presence of any ACPA rather than individual ACPA specificities was associated with a poorer response to anti-TNF agents. We suggest that this reflects distinctive differences in the pathogenesis of ACPA-positive and negative RA.