Prevalence of anti cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies in Malaysian rheumatoid arthritis patients and its correlation with disease activity.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study are to provide data regarding the prevalence of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies in Malaysian rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to correlate the levels of anti-CCP antibody with the Disease Activity Score (DAS).


METHODS
We studied the prevalence of anti-CCP antibodies in 51 RA patients attending our clinic and 29 controls. We also looked for correlation between anti-CCP antibody levels with the DAS and parameters such as duration of disease, rheumatoid factor (RF) and disease-modifying anti rheumatic drug (DMARD) usage.


RESULTS
None of the controls demonstrated anti-CCP antibodies. Forty-one out of 51 patients (80.4%) were positive for anti-CCP antibodies. Sensitivity and specificity were 80.4% and 100% respectively in this study. Anti-CCP levels correlated significantly with rheumatoid factor, but no correlation was observed with the other parameters.


CONCLUSIONS
Anti-CCP antibody is prevalent in Malaysian RA patients at 80.4% and more sensitive than RF in our cohort of established RA patients. Even though the anti-CCP levels correlated with RF, it did not show correlation with DAS.
Sockalingam
Sargunan
S
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. sargunan@um.edu.my
Khuan
Chow Sook
CS
Sthaneshwar
Pavai
P
D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000276:immunology*; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D001323:Autoantibodies; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C487763:cyclic citrullinated peptide; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor