Diagnostic performances of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies type IgM, IgA and IgG in Syrian patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: To determine the diagnostic performances of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP) type IgM, IgA and IgG and rheumatoid factor (RF) in Syrian patients with rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: 64 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were included in our study. Anti-CCP IgM, IgA and IgG and rheumatoid factor (RF) were detected using ELISA. Blood samples were collected from patients with definite rheumatoid arthritis according to (ACR) criteria in Al Mwasaa University Hospital and Al Assad University Hospital, Damascus, Syria, from December 2007 to December 2008. RESULTS: The sensitivity of anti-CCP IgG was 71.9% and specificity was 100%, Whereas the sensitivity of anti-CCP IgM was 70.3% and specificity was 64%, the sensitivity of anti-CCP IgA was 43.75% and specificity was 100%, RF IgM showed a sensitivity of 70.3% and a specificity of 96%, and anti-CCP IgG prevalence in patients with negative RF was 31.6%. All tests showed no correlation with gender in RA patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that anti-CCP IgG is a highly specific marker for RA and has diagnostic value especially in RF negative patients.