The Association of Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Positivity with Extra-Articular Manifestations in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, auto-immune disorder that is accompanied by long-term joint illness and systemic redification, which refers to additional-articular manifestations (ExRA). Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies are RA specific and linked to disease activity. This study attempted to assess the role of anti-CCP positivity as related to ExRA in patients with RA. Methods: Non-probability consecutive sampling was utilized to recruit 91 RA patients within the Department of Medicine, BKMC, Swabi, in the form of a cross-sectional study. Demographic, clinical, and serological data were obtained, as well as an anti-CCP level and RA Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS-28). Clinical examination and imaging were used to confirm the presence of ExRA. Results: There was a mean age of 45.3 (12.4) years; 71.4 percent were females. ExRA existed in 9.9 percent of patients, rheumatoid nodules (4.4 percent) being in the lead. Eighty one point three percent of participants were found to be anti-CCP positive. Of those having ExRA, 88.9 percent were anti-CCP positive; the relationship was not significant (p = 0.391). There was a substantial relationship between high DAS-28 scores (>5.1) and the ExRA presence (p = 0.032). Conclusion: ExRA was often associated with the presence of Anti-CCP antibodies in the RA patients but the association was not statistically significant. ExRA was significantly associated with higher disease activity. Such results increase the necessity of strict observation of disease activity to mark patients predisposed to system complications.