Rheumatoid arthritis tests detect which specific antibody?

The specific antibody that rheumatoid arthritis tests commonly detect is the anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody. This antibody is highly specific for rheumatoid arthritis and can be found in the majority of patients with this condition, often even before the clinical symptoms develop. The presence of anti-CCP antibodies is considered a strong indication of rheumatoid arthritis and can help differentiate it from other types of arthritis.

In clinical practice, the anti-CCP test is valuable because it has a higher specificity than the rheumatoid factor (another common antibody tested in rheumatoid arthritis) and can be utilized in diagnosing the disease, particularly in its early stages. Identifying this antibody aids healthcare providers in making accurate assessments and decisions regarding the management of the disease.

The other antibodies listed typically relate to other conditions: anti-streptococcal antibodies are implicated in post-streptococcal complications, anti-dsDNA antibodies are primarily associated with systemic lupus erythematosus, and anti-histone antibodies can be found in drug-induced lupus erythematosus. Therefore, they are not relevant in the context of diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis.