Anti-SSA and Anti-dsDNA Autoantibodies in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients and their Association with Disease Severity: A Case-Control Study in Kerbala Province

Abstract

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a lifelong autoimmune inflammatory disease of unknown origin. An early diagnosis of RA could improve the outcome. Several autoantibodies have been found in RA patients. Objective: To evaluate the incidence of autoantibodies against Sjögren's syndrome antigen A (SSA) and double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (dsDNA) in RA patients and to detect the association between their presence and disease severity markers. Methods: Blood samples were drawn from participants to be used in the detection of ESR and for the simultaneous detection of rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-cyclic citrullinated protein antibodies (ACCP), anti-SSA, and anti-dsDNA by the ELISA technique. Result: The level of autoantibodies differs significantly between patients and healthy people. Anti-SSA was present in about 95.12% and 2.43% of patients and controls, respectively. Additionally, anti-dsDNA was present in 82.92% and 14.63% of patients and controls, respectively. A significant positive correlation between ESR and autoantibody levels was detected. A non-significant correlation was detected between disease activity score 28 (DAS28) and the existence of autoantibodies. Conclusion: ROC analysis demonstrated that RF, ACCP, anti-SSA, and anti-dsDNA had high discriminatory power. The mean levels of these autoantibodies vary dramatically between sick and healthy individuals. The level of RF autoantibody varies dramatically with illness duration. According to DAS28, no autoantibody levels differed considerably.