Table 4

Role of the shared epitope as predictor of the presence of ACPA and RF in RA patients

SE (1 or 2 copies)

IgM RF

IgA RF

anti-CCP2

anti-CCP3

pos

neg

pos

neg

pos

neg

pos

neg

0

29

10

32

7

30

9

30

9

1

14

3

15

2

16

1

16

1

P = 0.73

P = 0.71

P = 0.25

P = 0.12

Patients with RA were separated according to the presence (1) or absence (0) of one or two copies of the shared epitope (SE) and the presence (pos) or absence (neg) of IgM rheumatoid factor (RF), IgA RF, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides (CCP)2, anti-CCP3. The statistical analysis was performed by using Fisher's exact

Singwe-Ngandeu et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2010 12:R36   doi:10.1186/ar2945