Revised Diagnostic criteria for RA

We have learned from recent clinical trials that early, aggressive, combination therapy produces superior outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Early disease was initially defined as 5 years and more recently 3 years. However, many rheumatologists feel that the best opportunity to halt disease progression and obtain the best clinical response is to initiate an aggressive therapy program within the first 6-12 months of disease.The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for the diagnosis of RA initially developed in 1987 have come under scrutiny in recent years because of their inability to establish the diagnosis of RA in the early stages of the disease. This criteria was estblished in 1987 nad it has taken so many years to even attempt to change it.

Yuo can read this abstract that has included Anti CCP antibody to the existing ACR criteriae and called this CCP6.