The diagnostic value of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of anti CCP antibodies in patients with RA. This study included three groups; group I: 60 early diagnosed RA patients selected according to the ACR, group II: 30 patients of arthritis other than RA, group III: 10 healthy age and sex matched volunteer. Sera from all participants were tested for rheumatoid factor (IgM RF) and anti-CCP IgG antibodies using ELISA. Of 60 patients in group I, 52 subjects (86.7%) were RF positive, whereas all participants in groups II and III were negative. Similarly 56 patients (93.3%) of group I were anti-CCP antibody positive, but all subjects in groups II and III were negative. Thus detection of anti-CCP antibodies can be used as a diagnostic indicator for patients with early RA (P < 0.0001).