USE OF ANTI-CYCLIC CITRULLINATED PEPTIDE (ANTI-CCP) ANTIBODIES AND RHEUMATOID FACTOR (RF) IN DIAGNOSIS OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic, inammatory autoimmune disease that initially affects small joints, progressing to larger joints, and eventually the skin, eyes, heart, kidneys, and lungs. This study was conducted to determine the usefulness of antiCCP antibodies and Rheumatoid Factor (RF) in diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis and to estimate the diagnostic value of anti-CCP antibodies compared with Rheumatoid Factor (RF) in the diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted in the Department of Medicine and it was a cross sectional study. A total of 86 patients presented with clinically suspected rheumatoid arthritis who attended the OPD Medicine were consecutively recruited. The present study was conducted on patients with clinically suspected rheumatoid arthritis from Department of Medicine, Darbhanga Medical College & Hospital, Laheriasarai, Bihar over a period of 12 months. RESULT: Anti-CCP antibody was not signicantly associated with the disease activity (p value =0.36). Anti-CCP antibody was signicantly associated with radiological defects whereby majority of patients with radiological defects (n=21/30; 70%) were positive for anti-CCPantibody (p value=0.03). Anti-CCP antibody was not signicantly associated with the incidence of rheumatoid nodule (p value =0.750). Anti-CCP antibody was not signicantly associated with extra-articular manifestation (p value =0.398). There is no signicant association between anti-CCPantibody and incidence of pulmonary involvement (p value =0.367). CONCLUSION: Combined use of RF and anti-CCP is a better prognostic and diagnostic tool than conventional RF tests alone. Uses of anti-CCP in clinical practice contribute to enhance the ability of rheumatologists to make judicious treatment decision. The usage of anti-CCP antibody is useful in the detection of early disease as evidenced by signicant association between anti-CCPantibody, RF, and radiological involvement in our study.