Diagnostic Value of Antibodies against a Modified Citrullinated Vimentin in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Aim of Work: To investigate the value of the detection of antibodies against modified citrullinated vimentin antibodies (anti-MCV) in comparison with anti-CCP2-for the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patients and Methods: The study Included Forty patients with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). They under went assessment by the disease activity score (DAS-28), visual analogue scale (VAS) and health assessment questionnaire (HAQ). Thirty healthy subjects matched for age and sex served as a control group. Blood samples were obtained from patients and controls for erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF). Anti-CCP2 and anti-MCV were determined using ELISA technique. Results: Estimated serum levels of anti-CCP2 and anti-MCV were significantly higher in patients compared to controls (p 0.001). There were no significant correlations between anti-MCV levels and age, dis- ease duration, duration of morning stiffness, number of swollen and tender joints, HAQ or ESR in patients with RA, while serum levels correlates significantly with DAS28, VAS and CRP (p 0.05). Anti-CCP2 correlates significantly with DAS28, VAS and CRP and ANA (p 0.05). Serum anti-MCV and anti-CCP2 were significantly correlated with each other (r = 0.483;p The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn and it showed that anti-MCV had diagnostic specificity, sensitivity of 93.3%, 75.5%, respectively, while anti-CCP2 specificity, sensitivity of 98.1%, 85%, respectively. Conclusion: Serum anti-MCV as well as the anti-CCP-2 assay perform comparably well in the diagnosis of RA. In the high-specificity range, however, the anti-CCP2 assay appears to be superior to the anti-MCV test.

Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody predicts the development of rheumatoid arthritis in patients with undifferentiated arthritis

Background:Clinical outcomes of undifferentiated arthritis(UA)are diverse,and only 40%of patients with UA develop rheumatoid arthritis(RA)after 3 years.Discovering predictive markers at disease onset for further intervention is critical.Therefore,our objective was to analyze the clinical outcomes of UA and ascertain the predictors for RA development.Methods:We performed a prospective,multi-center study from January 2013 to October 2016 among Chinese patients diagnosed with UA in 22 tertiary-care hospitals.Clinical and serological parameters were obtained at recruitment.Follow-up was undertaken in all patients every 12 weeks for 2 years.Predictive factors of disease progression were identified using multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression.Results:A total of 234 patients were recruited in this study,and 17(7.3%)patients failed to follow up during the study.Among the 217 patients who completed the study,83(38.2%)patients went into remission.UA patients who developed RA had a higher rheumatoid factor(RF)-positivity(42.9%vs.16.8%,χ^2=8.228,P=0.008),anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide(CCP)antibodypositivity(66.7%vs.10.7%,χ^2=43.897,P<0.001),and double-positivity rate of RF and anti-CCP antibody(38.1%vs.4.1%,χ^2=32.131,P<0.001)than those who did not.Anti-CCP antibody but not RF was an independent predictor for RA development(hazard ratio 18.017,95%confidence interval:5.803–55.938;P<0.001).Conclusion:As an independent predictor of RA,anti-CCP antibody should be tested at disease onset in all patients with UA.

The changes and clinical significance of anti CCP antibodies, complement and immunoglobulin in the pathological process of rheumatoid arthritis

Objective:To detect the serum levels of anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide (CCP) antibodies, complement (C3 and C4) and immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA and IgM) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods: A total of 100 patients with RA were selected as the observation group, and 60 healthy people were selected as the control group. The RA patients were divided into the high disease active group (25 cases), moderate disease active group (30 cases), low disease active group (24 cases) and remission group (21 cases) according to the disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28 score). The levels of anti-CCP antibodies, C3, C4, IgG, IgA and IgM of each research object were detected. Difference of all the serum indexes between the observation group and control group were compared, as well as that between the RA patients in different disease activity states. Finally, the correlation of anti-CCP antibodies with C3, C4, IgG, IgA and IgM were analyzed.Results: (1) The levels of anti-CCP antibodies, C3, C4, IgG, IgA and IgM in the observation group were obviously higher than that in the control group. (2) Compared with RA in remission, the levels of anti-CCP antibodies, C3, C4, IgG, IgA and IgM of RA in activity were significant higher. Compared with the low disease active group, the levels of anti-CCP antibodies, C3, C4, IgG, IgA and IgM in the moderate and high disease active groups were obviously higher. And the anti-CCP antibodies levels in the high disease active group were significantly higher than that in the moderate ones. The anti-CCP antibodies in RA patients had significant positive correlation with C3, C4, IgG, IgA and IgM.Conclusion:The levels of anti-CCP antibodies, C3, C4, IgG, IgA and IgM in RA patients were increased obviously, and they were correlated with the disease activity of RA. They could be important indexes for the diagnosis and illness monitoring of RA.

Challenges of Rheumatoid Arthritis Management in Sub-Saharan Africa in the 21st Century

In recent decades, several advances have been made in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) both in the diagnostic field and in the therapeutic field. Unfortunately, RA remains poorly studied in black Africa. Epidemiological data are rare and controversial. The estimated prevalence of RA in Africa is about 0% - 2.54%. Risk factors associated with RA must be studied by taking into account special features of black Africa such as the low tobacco consumption in certain regions, the tropical climate and the high frequency of endemic parasitic and viral infections. The initially supposed mildness of RA in black Africa is increasingly challenged. The diagnosis is often made too late because of the scarcity of rheumatologists and ignorance. Diagnostic tools are limited to the clinical data, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and radiographs as the other tools are poorly available. In addition, there are misconceptions in African communities, responsible for loss of sight during follow-up and treatment discontinuations. This is exacerbated by the shortage of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and the inability to afford them. Furthermore, biological agents are very difficult to access. Further studies are essential to better understand the characteristics of RA in black Africa. Thus, collaborations between African and Western research teams seem very important. In order to make available the DMARDs especially biological agents, pharmaceutical companies can contribute through research partnerships. Moreover, governments should provide a better place for chronic inflammatory diseases in the programs against non-communicable diseases. Finally, training must also be promoted to increase the number of specialists and the level of knowledge of other health workers.

Increased IgG Rheumatoid Factor-Positivity in the Asian Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Irrespective of Ethnicity

Aim of Work: Initial observations implied IgG rheumatoid factor (RF) to be common among Malaysian rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. We tested this hypothesis and used a multiethnic RA cohort (Malays, Chinese and Indians) to investigate whether the IgG RF predominance might be genetically or environmentally determined. Patients and Methods: 556 serum samples comprising 171 patients classified as RA according to the 1987 ACR criteria, 60 patients with other rheumatic diseases and 325 non-rheumatic controls were tested for IgG RF, IgM RF and anti-CCP by ELISA. The findings were then tested in a larger RA case-control cohort (n = 1844). Results: IgG RF predominated over IgM RF in all the investigated ethnic groups. The sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy of IgG RF (55.6%, 91.2% and 80.2%, respectively) were superior compared to IgM RF, but comparable to anti-CCP. IgG RF was however, also increased in the Malaysian controls, but the IgG RF superiority over IgM RF was still apparent after cutoff adjustment according to the 1987 ACR criteria. Autoantibody levels did not differ between the three ethnic groups. The Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curves showed larger areas under the curves for IgG RF (0.826) and for anti-CCP (0.867) than for IgM RF (0.737). Review of the literature showed consistently higher sensitivity for IgG RF in studies of Asian RA patients as compared to Caucasian and African-American studies. Conclusion: Increased frequency of IgG RF-positive in RA populations with different genetic background living in Malaysia argues for an environmental factor selectively amplifying the IgG RF response.