Association between Anti-Citrullinated Peptide Antibodies (ACPA) Levels and Disease Severity in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Background & Objectives: This case–control study was conducted to assess the diagnostic accuracy of serum anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to determine their correlation with disease activity, as measured by the Disease Activity Score in ۲۸ joints using C-reactive protein (DAS۲۸-CRP). Materials & Methods: A total of ۷۰ patients with RA (۸۵.۷% female; mean age = ۵۵.۷ ± ۱۱.۷۳ years) and ۷۰ age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included. Serum anti-CCP levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and disease activity was evaluated based on DAS۲۸-CRP scores. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was applied to assess the relationship between anti-CCP levels and RA disease activity. Results: Anti-CCP exhibited a sensitivity of ۶۱.۴% and a specificity of ۹۸.۶% for the diagnosis of RA. The mean serum anti-CCP concentration was significantly elevated in RA patients (۲۲۰.۲ ± ۲۷.۵ IU/mL) compared with controls (۱.۵۷ ± ۰.۵۲ IU/mL; p < ۰.۰۰۱). However, no statistically significant correlation was observed between anti-CCP levels and disease activity as determined by DAS۲۸-CRP (p = ۰.۴). Conclusion: Anti-CCP is a highly specific serological biomarker for the diagnosis of RA but does not demonstrate a significant association with disease activity as measured by DAS۲۸-CRP. Further large-scale, longitudinal investigations are warranted to elucidate its potential role in predicting long-term joint destruction and disease progression.

کلیدواژه ها:

Anti-CCP ، Rheumatoid Arthritis ، DAS۲۸-CRP ، Disease Activity ، Case-Control Study