Serum anti-CCP antibody and its correlation with disease activity in local Pakistani rheumatoid arthritis patients

Aims: to investigate the correlation of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-ccp) with clinical manifestations and disease activity in a cohort of patients with established diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis. methods: a total of 58 patients attending the rheumatology outpatient department of fatima memorial hospital,lahore were recruited in the study. data of disease related parameters such as disease duration,medications,degree of pain (visual analog scale,vas),disease activity score 28 (das 28),and health assessment questionnaire (haq) were recorded. laboratory workup included erythrocyte sedimentation rate (esr>20mm/hr considered positive),rheumatoid factor (determined by elisa technique) and anti-ccp antibody (elisa immco diagnostics,usa). results: the anti-ccp antibody levels did not correlate with the number of tender joints (p=0.282),swollen joints (p=0.705),vas (p=0.487),esr (p=0.128),haq scores (p=0.317) or das28 scores (p=0.348). however,anti-ccp levels correlated significantly (p=0.000) with the rheumatoid factor titers. conclusion: no correlation existed between the serum anti-ccp antibody titers and das28 and other disease activity parameters besides rf titers.