Assessment of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide in psoriatic arthritis

Four groups contributed to this study. 40 PsA, 40 psoriasis without arthritis, 40 RA and 40 healthy controls. They were tested for anti-CCP. Clinical and radiological data were collected and statistically compared between anti-CCP-positive and -negative PsA patients.Seven PsA (17.5%) and 34 RA (85%) were seropositive for anti-CCP. Patients of other groups were anti-CCP-negative. Regarding anti-CCP concentrations, highly significant difference existed between different groups and between anti-CCP-positive and -negative PsA. Significantly higher numbers of involved, swollen and tender joints, deformities and functional impairment of peripheral joints and radiological changes were found in anti-CCP-positive PsA.Anti-CCP may be found in PsA and are associated with higher number of involved, swollen and tender joints, with deformities and functional impairment of peripheral joints and with erosive arthritis.Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory joint disease that shares features of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This makes the differential diagnosis between PsA and RA in a patient with psoriasis difficult [1,2]. Moreover, laboratory test with specificity for PsA is still unavailable [1-3]. Various classifications and diagnostic criteria for PsA have been developed [4] of which the Moll and Wright [5] criteria remain the simplest and the most frequently used [4].Antibodies targeting cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) have been detected in the serum of RA patients, with high sensitivity and specificity [6-8] and serve as a powerful serologic marker for early diagnosis and prognostic prediction of joint destruction and disease progression [9-11]. Anti-CCP have been also identified in PsA with controversies as regards its clinical and radiological associations [12-18]. The present study aimed to assess anti-CCP in PsA and to determine its clinical and radiological associations.This study represents a case-control study. Subjects were randomly selected from those atte