[Anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies: novel markers for rheumatoid polyarthritis].

Rheumatoid arthritis is a multi-factorial autoimmune disease in which patho-physiological mechanisms have been partially elucidated these past few years. These recent advances have led to new and effective treatments that must be started early in the course of the disease. This review focuses on new serological markers, the anti citrullinated peptides antibodies which seem to be useful in early diagnosis and prognosis of rheumatoid arthritis and probably provide new insights in its pathogenesis.