Diagnostic performance and predictive value of rheumatoid factor, anti-cyclic-citrullinated peptide antibodies and HLA-DRB1 locus genes in rheumatoid arthritis
2008

Predicting Disease Activity and Joint Damage in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sample size: 60 publication Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Fathi Nihal A, Ezz-Eldin Azza M, Mosad Eman, Bakry Rania M, Hamed Hosny B, Ahmed Sahar, Mahmoud Marwa, Rashed Hebat-Allah G, Abdullah Fatma

Primary Institution: Assiut University Hospital, Assiut, Egypt

Hypothesis

The study evaluates the significance of genetic and serologic markers in predicting disease activity and joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Conclusion

Anti-CCP2 is superior to RF for detecting rheumatoid arthritis and provides predictive information on joint destruction and disease activity.

Supporting Evidence

  • 83.3% of patients tested positive for anti-CCP antibodies.
  • Independent predictors of disease activity included anti-CCP and DRB1*04 positive allele.
  • The combination of DRB1*04 and anti-CCP antibodies increased specificity to 92%.
  • Patients with HLA-DRB1*04 had a higher grade of disease activity.

Takeaway

This study found that certain blood tests can help doctors predict how severe rheumatoid arthritis will be in patients.

Methodology

The study examined 60 rheumatoid arthritis patients, measuring various blood markers and evaluating radiographic changes.

Participant Demographics

90% of participants were women, median age was 50 years.

Statistical Information

P-Value

0.001

Confidence Interval

OR 19.6 (2.1–48.5), OR 5.1 (1.2–21.1)

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1755-7682-1-20

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