ANTI-CCP (ANTI-CYCLIC CITRULLINATED PEPTIDE) ANTIBODY

The Anti-CCP test detects the presence of Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide antibodies in the blood. This test is a highly specific and sensitive tool primarily used to diagnose Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints.

The Anti-CCP test measures antibodies produced by the immune system that mistakenly target citrullinated proteins.

• Citrullination: This is a natural process where the amino acid arginine is modified into citrulline. This process is increased by inflammation (e.g., in the joints of someone developing RA.
• Autoimmune Response: In people who are genetically susceptible to RA, the immune system views these citrullinated proteins as foreign invaders and mounts an attack by producing Anti-CCP antibodies.
• Role in RA: The presence of these antibodies precedes the onset of joint symptoms by years and is strongly linked to a more severe, erosive form of the disease.