Evaluating the correlation between serum anti-CCP level and disease activity index in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), one of the most prevalent autoimmune diseases in the world, affects about 1% of population. It is shown that the titration of this antibody has some correlation with disease activity index. The goal of present study was to evaluate the correlation between anti-Cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) titration and disease activity index. In this cross-sectional study 105 RA patients were considered for American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria; serum anti-CCP level, and ESR of all participants were checked after venipuncture. In addition, disease activity index form and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were completed for each patient. The correlation between disease activity index (DAS28), ESR and VAS was evaluated. The numbers of tendered and swollen joints and anti-CCP level were analyzed using Kolomogrov-Smirnov, t test, Levene and Mann-Whitney statistical tests. The mean disease activity index in positive and negative anti-CCP patients was 11.5±4.7 and 8.6±1.4, respectively (P=0.023). In positive and negative anti-CCP patients the mean swelling joints was 2.3±2.1 and 1.1±0.7, respectively (P=0.031). Mean tender joints in positive and negative anti-CCP patients was 6.1±4.6 and 3.6±1.8, respectively (P=0.046). In positive and negative anti-CCP patients the mean of ESR was 36.8±24.8 and 10.3±6.7, respectively (P<0.0001). Also the mean VAS in positive and negative anti-CCP patients was 42.1±32.8 and 18.8±9.1, respectively (P=0.007). Considering the correlation between anti-CCP titration and disease activity index, this test can be used as a factor of disease activity in RA.