Prevalence of Autoantibodies (ACPA) and Rheumatoid Factor among Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients in Sulaymaniyah

Abstract

Background and objectives: Rheumatoid factor and anticitrullinated protein antibodies are the most characteristic autoantibodies for rheumatoid arthritis. Our aims were to evaluate the prevalence of Rheumatoid factor and anticitrullinated protein antibodies and their association with demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with RA. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study which was conducted at Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Center/Sulaymaniyah from February 2022 to November 2022. The study included patients with rheumatoid arthritis from both sexes. Socio-demographic and clinical data were collected. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to estimate serum levels of rheumatoid factor and anticitrullinated protein antibodies antibody titer. Results: The prevalence of rheumatoid factor was 72.61%. Each of high disease activity, mean DAS28 scores, rheumatoid nodules and deformities were significantly associated with rheumatoid factor positivity (P= 0.015, P= 0.025, P= 0.007 and P<0.001, respectively). The prevalence of anticitrullinated protein antibodies was 68.87%. High disease activity, rheumatoid nodules and deformities were significantly associated with anticitrullinated protein antibodies (P= 0.014, P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). Conclusions: The prevalence of rheumatoid factor and anticitrullinated protein antibodies among patients with rheumatoid arthritis was within the global context. High disease activity and the presence of rheumatoid nodules are positively associated with rheumatoid factor-positivity. Number of tender joints and the presence of rheumatoid nodules were positively associated with anticitrullinated protein antibodies-positivity.