Anti-CCP Antibodies and Rheumatological Findings in Brazilian Patients with Crohn's Disease.
OBJECTIVE
Arthropathy is the most common extraintestinal manifestation observed in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). The present study aimed to screen rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using anti-CCP antibodies and rheumatoid factor (RF) in CD patients from Southern Brazil. Additionally, the presence of arthralgia and spondyloarthritis (SpA) was evaluated. CD patients, previously diagnosed using clinical data, imaging tests, endoscopic and histological findings, were included consecutively.


METHODS
A total of 100 patients participated in the study, of which 60% were female, with a mean age of 41.9 ± 12.04 (16-83 years). As controls, sera from 100 healthy individuals from the same geographic area were analyzed.


RESULTS
Arthralgias were present in 55% of the patients, being more frequent in women (65.5%; 36/55), than in males (34.5%). No association was found between arthralgia and the treatment method used. Six patients (6/100) had SpA previously diagnosed. In the CD group, anti-CCP was positive only in one patient, while RF was positive in 7 patients (7%; 7/100). The anti-CCP positive patient (woman, 38 years old, RF positive), fulfilled the ACR criteria and was diagnosed as RA. In the control group, anti-CCP antibodies were detected in 1% (1/100) and RF was positive in 6 of the samples (6%).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data showed low frequency of anti-CCP antibodies and RF in Brazilian patients with CD. Additionally, we found a high prevalence of arthralgia in these patients, with 6% of them diagnosed with SpA.
Immunopathology Molecular Laboratory, Clinical Hospital, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.
Valmir
V
Mocelin
Renato Mitsunori
RM
Nisihara
Shirley R R
SR
Utiyama
Lorete M S
LM
Kotze
Odery
O
Ramos
Iara
I
Messias-Reason
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000209:etiology; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001938:Brazil; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000097:blood*; D015995:Prevalence; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000097:blood*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
D001323:Autoantibodies; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C487763:cyclic citrullinated peptide; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor