Table 4 Performance characteristics for criteria stratified by duration of arthritis symptoms*
CriteriaSensitivity (%)Specificity (%)
All subjects, n = 248
    1987 ACR criteria5191
    1987 ACR criteria+anti-CCP5591
    CCP 7 criteria7779
    CCP 6 criteria7481
Subjects with arthritis symptoms ⩽6 months, n = 66
    1987 ACR criteria2586
    1987 ACR criteria+anti-CCP4486
    CCP 7 criteria6372
    CCP 6 criteria6372
Subjects with arthritis symptoms >6 months, n = 182
    1987 ACR criteria5893
    1987 ACR criteria+anti-CCP5893
    CCP 7 criteria8182
    CCP 6 criteria7785

  • ACR, American College of Rheumatology; anti-CCP, antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptide; CCP 7 (criteria), removing rheumatoid nodules alone while substituting anti-CCP; CCP 6 (criteria), removing both rheumatoid nodules and erosions while substituting anti-CCP.

  • *Calculation for specificity performed using only individuals diagnosed as “not RA” by the rheumatologist at most recent follow-up.