London: Simple blood test could detect arthritis 16 years in advance

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London: A simple blood test could predict rheumatoid arthritis risk up to 16 years before the onset of the painful and debilitating condition, Oxford scientists say.
The blood test looks for antibodies that recognise the protein tenascin-C and could reliably identify those who will contract rheumatoid arthritis (RA), researchers said.
When inflammation occurs in the body, some proteins are altered in a process called citrullination.
These altered forms can prompt an immune response from the body, which can see it turning antibodies on itself - causing rheumatoid arthritis.
Tests that spot antibodies to citrullinated proteins are already used to diagnose the disease.
While tests for individual proteins usually have a relatively low diagnostic sensitivity, a more general test called CCP, that detects synthetic citrullinated peptides, identifies a lot more RA cases.
The blood test looks for antibodies that recognise the protein tenascin-C and could reliably identify those who will contract rheumatoid arthritis (RA), researchers said.
When inflammation occurs in the body, some proteins are altered in a process called citrullination.
These altered forms can prompt an immune response from the body, which can see it turning antibodies on itself - causing rheumatoid arthritis.
Tests that spot antibodies to citrullinated proteins are already used to diagnose the disease.
While tests for individual proteins usually have a relatively low diagnostic sensitivity, a more general test called CCP, that detects synthetic citrullinated peptides, identifies a lot more RA cases.
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