Anti-cyclic citrullinated Peptide antibody: an early diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the role of Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide (anti-CCP) antibody and Rheumatoid Factor (RF) in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients.

METHODS

The present study comprised of 60 clinically diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis patients and 30 apparently healthy subjects as controls. Among 60 RA patients, 30 were <2 years duration and 30 were 3 to 15 years duration. Anti-CCP and RF levels were analyed by ELISA and immunoturbidimetric assay respectively. Disease activity was assessed by disease duration, duration of morning stiffness, hand deformity and radiological findings. Anti-CCP and rheumatoid factor were measured.

RESULT

A valid comparison showed that autoantibodies directed to citrullinated antigen-anti-CCP are superior to RF for the detection of RA. Anti-CCP antibodies have an independent role in predicting radiological damage and progression in RA patients.

CONCLUSION

With their excellent specificity, anti-CCP antibodies can be used as serological marker in establishing the diagnosis of RA. Anti-CCP antibodies discriminated accurately between erosive and nonerosive RA making them a potentially good prognostic marker for the disease.