Four New Markers in Early RA Diagnosis

UH-RA1, UH-RA9, UH-RA14, and UH-RA21 have been identified as four new biomarkers that can help in early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), specifically in one-third of patients who test negative for currently recognized antibodies. MedPage Today reports:

Four new biomarkers have been identified that can help in the early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), particularly among the one-third of patients who test negative for currently recognized autoantibodies, a researcher reported here.

In a cohort of 292 patients, the diagnosis of RA couldn't be confirmed in 34% because tests for rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides (CCP) were negative, said Liesbeth M. De Winter, who is a PhD student at Hasselt University in Diepenbeek, Belgium.

But that number fell to 24% using a test panel that included the biomarkers UH-RA1, UH-RA9, UH-RA14, and UH-RA21, De Winter explained at the annual meeting of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR).

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