Anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis patients exposed to wood smoke

Abstract

<abstract><sec> <title>Background and Aims</title> <p>Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic, autoimmune disease with an unknown etiology, which attacks the synovial tissue more than any other organ. Citrulline has been observed in the joints of RA patients. Anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACPAs), which are recognized as the most specific serologic markers of RA, are synthesized against unusual citrullinated peptides during the disease. There is little information about the increased production of antibodies against citrullinated peptides in RA patients exposed to wood smoke. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to compare the serum level of ACPA in two groups of exposed and non-exposed RA patients to wood smoke.</p> </sec><sec> <title>Materials and Methods</title> <p>A total of 110 RA patients, including 55 exposed patients to wood smoke and 55 non-exposed patients, were enrolled in this study. The serum level of ACPA, rheumatoid factor (RF), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and disease activity (based on the 28-joint Disease Activity Score) were determined in patients and compared between the two groups.</p> </sec><sec> <title>Results</title> <p>In this study, there was no significant difference in the serum level of ACPA between the exposed and non-exposed groups (P = 0.73). On the other hand, RF (P = 0.03), ESR (P = 0.007), and disease activity index (P = 0.01) were significantly higher in the exposed group, compared to the non-exposed group.</p> </sec><sec> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>According to the results of the current study, pollutants from wood smoke significantly increased the RF, ESR, and disease activity index in RA patients. Nonetheless, there was no significant difference in the serum level of ACPA between the two groups.</p> </sec></abstract>