Antibody against mutated citrullinated vimentin: a new sensitive marker in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis

The aim of this study was to determine the performance of antibodies against mutated citrullinated vimentin (anti-MCV) in comparison with antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Serum levels of anti-MCV and anti-CCP were determined in 193 patients with RA and 332 controls, and sensitivity and specificity were calculated. In a separate analysis of 86 patients, the anti-MCV levels were compared to disease activity. Sensitivity of anti-MCV versus anti-CCP was 71.5 and 69.4%, specificity was 81.3 and 97.6%, respectively. The ROC curves showed higher specificity and an advantage of anti-CCP. In seronegative RA patients the sensitivity of anti-MCV was superior over anti-CCP. Anti-MCV positivities also occurred in systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjoegren’s syndrome. In a subgroup of 86 RA patients we found a significant correlation between anti-MCV and disease activity. Anti-MCV appears to be an important marker for the diagnosis of RA, and correlates also with disease activity.